Sample RTI: Disputed Water Bill, Meter Reading and Connection History

• Bill amount jumps without a corresponding rise in usage.
• Domestic premises charged at commercial / bulk tariff.
• Bill issued for a sealed or disconnected meter.
• Estimated bills (Code A / Code E) running for more than two cycles despite working meter.
• Meter replaced without the old meter's final reading recorded.
• Sewerage charge added without sewer connection in your locality.
• Penal interest charged on a bill already paid.
• Disconnection notice issued for a disputed bill before the dispute is decided.

• Routine bill correction: try the consumer-grievance cell of your water utility first; most issue corrected bills in 7 to 15 days.
• Service deficiency claim: if you want compensation for water-supply failure, file at the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• Asking for a neighbour's bill: that engages Section 8(1)(j); the PIO will refuse.
• Tap-water quality complaint: file with the State Pollution Control Board or your utility's quality cell first.

• State your Connection ID / K-Number / Consumer Number and the disputed billing months.
• Limit the meter-reading request to the last 12 months so the PIO cannot plead voluminousness.
• Ask for the certified copy of the tariff order in force on the disputed bill date.
• Ask for the meter test certificate if you suspect a faulty meter.
• Ask for the utility's Standards of Performance (SoP) regulation so you can compare against statutory time-lines.
• Ask for the complaint redressal log if you have already lodged a written complaint.
• Send by Speed Post (Acknowledgement Due).

You may ask only for your own connection records: own meter readings, own bills, own complaint log. A neighbour's records, a previous tenant's records, or a builder's records for unsold flats fall within Section 8(1)(j) and are protected. The published tariff order and the SoP regulations are public documents and are freely disclosable.

To
The Public Information Officer
[Name of water utility, e.g., Delhi Jal Board / BWSSB / BMC Water Department /
 Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board / Karnataka Urban Water
 Supply and Drainage Board]
[Full postal address, PIN]

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Records relating to water connection [Consumer Number XXXX]

Sir / Madam,

1. I, [Full name], a citizen of India residing at [full address], apply under
   Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for the records below.

2. Particulars for record-identification:
       Connection / K-No / Consumer No : ________________
       Address of premises             : ________________
       Category at file (domestic/commercial/bulk) : ________________
       Disputed billing months         : ________________

3. Information sought (please supply certified copies):
   (a) Certified copy of the connection-application file from inception to date.
   (b) Meter readings recorded for the last 12 calendar months, with date,
       time, and name of the meter reader.
   (c) Certified copy of the bill calculation worksheet for each disputed
       bill, including slab, multiplier, and adjustment entries.
   (d) Certified copy of the tariff order in force on the date of each
       disputed bill, and the public notification number.
   (e) If a meter test was carried out, the certified copy of the meter
       test certificate, with date and percentage error recorded.
   (f) Certified copy of my consumer-grievance complaint log, with the
       Standards of Performance compliance status for each complaint.
   (g) Sanctioned tariff category for the premises and the documents on
       which that category was fixed.
   (h) Name, designation and office address of the officer presently holding
       my file.

4. I enclose the prescribed application fee of Rs 10 by way of Indian Postal
   Order in favour of the Accounts Officer of the public authority.

5. Please send the reply to the address below by Registered Post.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

To
The First Appellate Authority
[Name of water utility]

Subject: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Non-supply of records on water-bill dispute

Sir / Madam,

1. I filed RTI dated [DD/MM/YYYY] (Speed Post No. [XXXX]) seeking the records
   listed therein.

2. The 30-day period under Section 7(1) expired on [DD/MM/YYYY]. The PIO has
   not replied / has replied partly on points: [list].

3. I therefore appeal under Section 19(1) and pray that the PIO be directed
   to supply the records sought within the time fixed by you.

4. I draw attention to Section 19(8)(a)(i) on costs and Section 20(1) on
   penalties.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

• cgwb.gov.in: Central Ground Water Board, water-resource policy.
• djb.gov.in: Delhi Jal Board, sample State water utility.
• bwssb.karnataka.gov.in: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
• hmwssb.org: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7(1) and 19(1).

Use the utility printed on the bill itself: that is the public authority. In Delhi it is Delhi Jal Board, in Bengaluru BWSSB, in Mumbai the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Hydraulic Engineer's Department, in Hyderabad HMWSSB, in Chennai CMWSSB, and so on. Each has its own PIO.

Yes. Once a consumer disputes a meter reading, the utility carries out a meter accuracy test under its Supply Regulations. The test certificate is part of your file and is fully disclosable.

Your meter may be unreadable or the reader may have skipped the visit. The RTI compels the utility to disclose why estimation continued and for how many cycles. Estimation past two cycles is normally a violation of the utility's Standards of Performance.

The tariff order is already public under Section 4(1)(b). The PIO must hand it over without quibble. If the bill applies a tariff different from the published order, that is direct evidence of overcharging.

Not automatically. File a written representation with the PIO citing the pending RTI and approach the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum of the utility. Most utilities stay disconnection while the dispute is under examination, but you must record the dispute in writing.

• AI RTI Drafter: builds a customised letter in 60 seconds.
• Sample RTI index: full library.
• First appeal guide: Section 19(1) procedure.
• Sample RTI: electricity DISCOM: utility cousin.
• Sample RTI: road work: civic infrastructure cousin.
• Sample RTI: complaint follow-up: generic complaint sample.

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026

Sources verified against State water utility regulations, the Right to Information Act, 2005, and primary utility portals as on 9 May 2026.