Msedcl — excess billing and zero attending to constant breakdowns

Address:

Raigad, Maharashtra

The Chief Engineer in charge of consumer complaints
MSEDCL
Mumbai.
10th August, 2017.
Dear Sir or Madam,
This is with regards to consumer number[protected], installed at Awas Village, Alibag Division 542. I would like to bring to your attention that we have had electricity problems non-stop since the instllation of this of this meter/transformer in December 2015.
On average, the DO blows off several times a month and during the monsoon – it must have blown off 3 times a week at the minimum.
Apart from this, we had complained about excess billing in the month of April 2016. At the time, Mr. Mulani – the divisional engineer in Alibag had told us to keep a daily reading of our usage. We have been doing this. The reading on the bill is never consistent with the reading that we have. When we complained about that – we were told that it is because the reading is done on different days and not necessarily on the day that is mentioned on the bill. This is not acceptable to us since if this was the case, then there would be a variation – sometimes the reading would be less and sometimes more – however, it is consistently in excess of the actual reading. You may see below and I can submit copies of our readings as well.
Date MSEDCL bill reading Jhaveri reading on same date difference
3.1.[protected] excess
2.2.[protected] excess
4.3.[protected] excess
3.4.[protected] excess
3.5.[protected] excess
JUNE – no bill received for the month of May – however, July bill has dates and readings
2.6.[protected] excess
2.7.[protected]SAME AS JUNE 2nd READING[protected] short
Yet despite the reading being the same for June 2nd and July 2nd – billing was done for 638 units.
Further, since 13th June, 2017 – our meter has burnt out. This has been brought to the attention of the local team several times, but it was only on August 2nd that Mr. Bhoir visited our site and has demanded payment from us for a new meter to be installed. However, we have had no supply since July 13th. It was restored for 2 days on July 29th and then went off again on August 1st, 2017. Now I am being told by Mr. Bhoir that our contractor who did the installation of the transformer has to check the cabling since it is faulty and until the cable is checked – we will not be supplied any electricity. The contractor says that he will check the cable, but that because of the frequent break-downs in the area – there could have been a short circuit in the line. Whatever the issue, as a consumer – it is not my job to be chasing the various MSEDCL officials after I have paid such high amounts to install a transformer to simply get basic electrical supply.
It is the job of the local MSEDCL office to check these cables and ensure that the supply is ok. On the contrary – nobody comes to help us and every month we are subject to inflated bills and no attention or help when we complain. Every time the DO blows off, the MSEDCL staff tell us to call the contractor and the contactor says that this is not his job. Then the repair is done by cajoling the local wireman and paying him a tip.
The installation of the meter was done by a licensed contractor – Ms. Nishant Enterprises owned by Mr. Vishwas Mhatre recommended by your MSEDCL local team in Alibag. This is because you do not have the requisite staff and so therefore, bungalow owners like ourselves have to pay EXORBITANT charges for the basic right of electricity supply and despite these charges, no proper services are provided to us.
This is simply unacceptable – kindly let me know who I can come and see personally to sort this issue out. I would like to see someone senior enough in your Mumbai office who can help me resolve the issue rather than have me run from pillar to post as is the case in Alibag.
Also please kindly note that we were not billed for our electric usage from the date of installation in December 2015 till April 2016 despite asking for the bill SEVERAL times. Our first bill in April 2016 was issued for an amount in excess of Rs. 1, 50, 000. When this was pointed out – the bill was arbitrarily reduced to some lower, but equally unacceptable amount. Because that amount has been paid, but is still to be sorted out by yourselves, I cannot pay my bills online. This too causes a huge problem for me – so please appreciate the huge problems that I have to go through each month because there is no proper system in Alibag.
I will wait to hear from you,
Thank you,
Sincerely,
Saloni Jhaveri. Consumer number[protected]