Mumbai: BEST to resume meter-readings

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) that had earlier started its services for essential workers might also be able to bring respite for close to 10 lakh power consumers.

The BEST is all geared up to send out electricity bills on actual readings for the first time since the lockdown. Around 300 employees who read meters have been asked to note down actual readings across Mumbai, except in the containment zones as specified by the civic body. Earlier, the power consumers were receiving e-bills that were sent on average consumption much like other distributors.

Meanwhile, the officials of BEST stated that in case consumers were charged more than their actual electricity consumption, the meter reading pointing out the units consumed will be on the lower side and the amount already paid will be adjusted in the near future.

Earlier, as a result of the nation-wide lockdown across the country, the electricity bill companies had been unable to take the readings. However, after the resumption in the processes, there have been multiple complaints about the electricity bill being extremely high. Several people have been unable to file the bill and have also complained to the government about the same.

In the past, power consumers of Tata Power, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML), the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking, and the State-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Corporation Limited (MSEDCL), took to social media demanding an answer for the exorbitant amounts. In some cases, the bills were for more than ₹10,000. Mumbai has nearly 32 lakh residential power consumers and around eight lakh commercial consumers.

However, the power companies have responded stating that the high electricity bills are mostly because power utilities have been able to check meter readings in June after a period of two months. Meter readings had been discontinued since March 22, as per the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) directive. Instead, during the lockdown, the people were billed based on their average consumption of December, January and February.