Mumbai: The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) on Friday announced formation of a two-member fact-finding committee to probe the surge in recent electricity bills in Mumbai under Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML). The panel will find out reasons and recommend steps to ensure that such incidence of sudden hike does not occur.
Till the committee submit its report, which may take two-three months, the MERC has directed the AEML to verify metered consumption of those who have been billed more than their average consumption and refund the money along with interest if any excess billing is found.
Earlier this week, the MERC had sought an explanation from the AEML after media reports highlighted an increase in electricity bills. The AEML in its reply said there was a surge in electricity bills of November due to prolonged high temperature and high humidity in October, whereby about 15% more units were consumed compared to the previous month. “Such increased consumption pushed residential consumers to tariff slabs of higher consumption with higher rates. In addition, there were dues of fuel adjustment charge, part of which were also recovered in the bills. Simultaneous impact of all these factors increased the electricity bills,” the company said.
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Of the 27 lakh consumers of the AEML, about 1.10 lakh residential consumers received bills with around 20% increased amount on average. The MERC has directed the AEML to put internal checks on bills to be issued from December 10 till January 10 to find out whether customers are being excessively charged, which will be monitored by the MERC.
“It is clear from the fact that we are appointing a two-member committee that we are not satisfied with the reply received from the company,” Anand Kulkarni, Chairperson, MERC, said.
“The AEML in its reply talked about the legacy from previous Reliance Infra that it received. It is not possible for the MERC to go into details of balance sheets of each and every company, and of the past. Therefore, this committee will have a free hand and can access any document, past the MERC orders it deems fit to inquire,” Mr. Kulkarni said, adding the panel will have the mandate to check records of all distribution licensees, including Tata Power, BEST, and Mahavitaran.
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An AEML spokesperson said the AEML is committed to its customers and will continue to follow all guidelines and tariff norms laid down by the MERC. “We are open to the fact-finding committee appointed by the MERC. We will continue to respond to all our customers having queries on their bills.”
The members of the committee are retired IAS officer and current State Information Commissioner (Brihanmumbai) Ajitkumar Jain and V.L. Sonawane, former member (technical), MERC.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam, who has been raising the issue, called it a desperate attempt by the MERC to address the public outrage. “The MERC must allow power experts and members of NGO working in the field to be part of the committee to ensure transparency in the power distribution and power tariff pattern in Mumbai,” he said.