Many consumers in big housing societies in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad are paying their power bills on the basis of average monthly consumption because of unavailability of new meters despite MSEDCL’s claim of no shortage of them.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) said in a recent statement that they would get around 15 lakh new meters this year. But consumers said that they have not received any communication from the power distribution company when they would get the new meters.
A consumer from Pimple Saudagar area said, “We had requested for replacement of a faulty meter, but it has been more than a year and we are yet to get a new meter. The MSEDCL officials have said that a new meter will be installed once they receive it. At present, we are paying an average monthly bill to avoid any lumpsum charges in future when the new meter is installed.”
Consumer activist Vivek Velankar told TOI, “We have been hearing about the supply of meters for the past five years from the MSEDCL. Maximum problems are faced by those having three-phase meters since these are in short supply. Such consumers are still awaiting new meters. We have also received several complaints from consumers regarding non-availability of meters for replacing those that are faulty.”
Meanwhile, the MSEDCL said that a work order has been issued for supplying 15 lakh new single-phase electricity meters by September 2022. At the same time, supply of 75,000 new three-phase meters has also started, a statement issued by the power distribution company stated.
“Customers should contact the concerned executive engineer or superintendent engineer of MSEDCL directly if the meter is not available for new connection or replacement of a faulty meter,” the statement said, adding that consumers do not need to buy meters from outside as there is ample availability of meters with the MSEDCL.
An MSEDCL official from the Pimple Saudagar office said that there are at least 250 consumers who are on the wait list for new meters. “The meters are available in single-phase and three-phase. We have maximum waiting for three-phase meter,” he said.
