Surge in power bills:Merc panel also blames higher temperature

In a major relief to Adani Transmission, the Merc-appointed fact-finding panel has upheld the discom's claim that an unusual rise in temperatures led to higher than normal energy consumption in the megapolis and the resultant surge in power bills in September-October 2018. The committee, however, noted that the company could have anticipated the increase in demand during September- October 2018 and alerted the consumers, and thus prevented or lowered the public outcry.

"Such advance action by Adani Electricity Mumbai could have reduced the consumer unrest," the report noted. The panel appointed by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) has observed that due to the surge in temperatures, the number of consumers in lower slabs went down leading to an increase in the number of customers in higher slabs across all the discoms in the megapolis.

The fact-finding panel was appointed following agitation by consumers after their power bills surged. Adani Electricity Mumbai-Distribution had in its defense submitted that there was an agitation by the workers' union soon after the transfer of management control from Reliance Infra and termed the agitation as on some legacy issues inherited by the present discom.

The panel, however, noted that the company should have deputed the meter reading staff immediately after the agitation was over to take meter readings of the skipped billing cycles by temporally rearranging or relocating the available manpower. "This could have significantly reduced the number of consumer complaints on account of billing. However, no such initiative was taken by the company.

"There is no doubt that Adani Energy has taken different steps to redress a large number of consumer grievances received in November 2018. But it is necessary to point out that these measures were taken largely after the intervention by the Merc," the report noted. The company had stated that of the 24.48 lakh consumers, 4.35 lakh consumer meters in the billing cycle number 11 to 15 could not be read due to the agitation.

Reacting to the report, an Adani Electricity spokesman said, "the committee has confirmed all the statements and explanations given by Adani Electricity regarding an increase in bills which has been due to the rise in temperatures leading to higher consumption in September and October 2018." The company further said for consumers who were billed on an average consumption basis, the committee has recognized the fact that the company has obtained actual meter readings and credit has been passed on to consumers wherever due. "We has also taken initiatives to reduce energy cost for customers and we will continue to follow the guidelines from the commission going forward," it said.

The panel also recommended that discoms switch to smart meters in a phased manner which can minimize manual interface in meter reading and also let consumers have the facility of viewing their consumption on a real-time basis. "As discoms have the mechanism to detect abnormal meter readings either at the time of meter reading or generation of energy bills, they can proactively test the meters of those consumers whose consumption is abnormally high and accordingly inform them. This will enhance transparency in billing and reduce consumer complaints to some extent," the panel concluded.