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Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission asks Adani Electricity about pricey current

Many consumers complained that there was surge in their electricity bills which is not commensurate with the marginal hike in the tariff approved by it.

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With both, the BJP and Congress trading charges over spurt in electricity bills recovered by Adani Electricity, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has sought explanation from the latter regarding media reports in this regard.

In its communication sent on Tuesday to Adani Electricity by MERC executive director (ED), Rajendra Ambekar said the regulator has taken a serious note of consumer grievances. Many consumers complained that there was surge in their electricity bills which is not commensurate with the marginal hike in the tariff approved by it.''I have been directed to seek explanation from Adani Electricity Mumbai (Distribution) within 24 hours detailing facts of the matter and the steps taken by it to remedy the situation,'' Ambekar said.

He said, from the media reports, it was observed that large sections of Adani Electricity's consumers are continuously agitating against unduly excessive electricity bill received by them recently. There were complaints of electricity bills allegedly being issued based on average energy consumption instead of actual meter reading. Therefore, MERC has sought an explanation within 24 hours from Adani Electricity.

Meanwhile, Adani Electricity spokesperson said," We have received the communication from Hon'ble MERC & shall be making our submissions as per the direction of Hon'ble Commission."

Ambekar said that MERC had issued the mid-term review order on September 12 and thereby revised the tariff applicable in the area of Adani Electricity business with effect from September 1. The average tariff increase approved in the mid-term review order for 2018-19 was around 0.24%.

MERC's intervention comes at a time when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last week had asked the state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to look into complaints of inflated billing by Adani Electricity. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar in his letter to Fadnavis said in some cases the increase has varied between 50% and 100%.

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief Sanjay Nirupam also claimed that the electricity charges were doubled in Mumbai after Adani Electricity took over from Reliance Infrastructure.

However, Adani Electricity clarified that the tariff increase has no correlation with Adani taking over Mumbai distribution business. It is only a coincidence that the timing of tariff revision coincided with the takeover. Further, the electricity consumption rises in the month of October every year after Monsoon, due to increasing temperatures and humidity.

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