Nagpur: Following multiple complaints of inflated electricity bills after the installation of smart meters in Nagpur’s Kelwad area, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has taken swift action to address consumer concerns. On Thursday (July 17), several consumers staged a protest at the Kelwad MSEDCL office, demanding clarity over the spike in billing. The officials promptly reviewed meter readings and offered immediate relief.
According to MSEDCL, around 450 faulty meters in Kelwad under the Savner Division were recently replaced with smart meters. After installation, a section of consumers reported receiving unusually high bills, prompting them to approach the local office in protest.
Upon investigation, officials clarified that most consumers received average summer consumption bills due to a delay between the removal of old meters and activation of the new smart meters. This gap caused billing based on estimated consumption, which appeared inflated. However, only two cases were found where billing was genuinely erroneous, and they were corrected on the spot.
MSEDCL emphasized that not all consumers who received new meters were affected. In several instances, the smart meter data had not synced with the billing system, resulting in average usage-based billing. These cases will be individually reviewed, and revised bills will be issued after thorough inspection of meter data.
“It is incorrect to generalize that smart meters are leading to massive electricity bills,” MSEDCL clarified. Over 4,000 smart meters have been installed in Savner Taluka so far. In areas where the reading replacement data wasn’t captured properly in the system, average billing was applied, which may seem higher. Consumers who believe they have been overcharged have been urged to contact the local subdivision office for resolution.
Dilip Raut, Deputy Executive Engineer at MSEDCL, personally addressed the concerns of the protesting consumers. He assured them that each case would be evaluated, and if needed, parallel meters would be installed to verify consumption. He also directed staff and public representatives (Janmitras) to record accurate consumption data while replacing meters to avoid such discrepancies.
MSEDCL has reiterated its commitment to transparency and urged consumers not to panic. Anyone experiencing billing issues is advised to reach out promptly for corrective action.
