HC refuses to intervene in pleas against exorbitant electricity bills in Maharashtra

DISPOSING OF PILs seeking relief against “excessive” electricity bills during the lockdown period, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to interfere and directed petitioners to exercise an alternative, and approach grievance forums, as per guidelines by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC). The court also directed electricity providers, including Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), to act on complaints at the earliest.

A division bench of Justice P B Varale and Justice Milind N Jadhav heard two petitions, including a PIL filed by a Mumbai-based businessman, seeking directions to the state government and electricity providers to reduce power bills for June and to formulate a strategy to avoid charging exorbitant amounts in future, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.