No Relief, Bills Accurate, Pay Up: Discom To ShockedUsers | Nagpur News

Nagpur: Thousands of electricity consumers who received steep power bills flocked to MSEDCL’s grievance redressal and smart meter awareness camps across Nagpur and Wardha on Wednesday, hoping for relief. Instead, most walked away with the same response from officials: “Your bill is correct. Please pay it.”The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) organised nearly 200 outreach camps to address billing complaints and counter misconceptions about smart meters. While the utility claimed over 8,000 consumers attended and only 10% to 15% complained of high bills, the turnout at several camps visited by TOI painted a different picture.Consumers said their bills had doubled or even tripled in recent months despite no significant change in household electricity usage.For many, the interaction followed a predictable pattern. Officials first asked how many air-conditioners they used. If consumers reported using one or more ACs, officials attributed the higher bills to the prolonged summer, saying increased consumption pushed up electricity usage.Those who questioned the accuracy of smart meters were asked to apply for a meter accuracy test by paying around ₹220, a reply that did little to reassure consumers.“It is not about which meter has been installed. Officials keep insisting the bill is correct, and consumption has increased, but those explanations are simply not convincing,” said Suraj Gangamwar, a resident of Narendra Nagar, whose June electricity bill was nearly twice his usual amount.Several others echoed similar concerns. While some accepted that the technical explanation sounded plausible, they questioned the unusually high units recorded in their bills, insisting their day-to-day electricity consumption had remained largely unchanged.Many said they had expected detailed verification or immediate relief, rather than being told that the bills accurately reflected their usage.MSEDCL officials maintained that most grievances were resolved on the spot. Consumers who continued to dispute the readings would receive home visits, during which officials would demonstrate the accuracy of smart meters by comparing their readings with those of conventional meters, they said.The utility said 7.53 lakh smart meters have been installed across Nagpur Circle, including 6.03 lakh in Nagpur district and 1.50 lakh in Wardha district. It also claimed consumers received rebates worth ₹6 crore over the past 10 months under the Time-of-Day tariff by shifting electricity consumption to daytime hours.