A Shankar Nagar resident has alleged that his monthly electricity bill surged to more than Rs 25,000 after the installation of a smart meter, sparking concerns over power billing and leading to complaints against MSEDCL (MahaVitaran).Jagjit Singh, a resident of Shankarnagar, lives in a three-room house where electricity consumption had typically resulted in monthly bills of around Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. However, he recently received a bill of Rs 25,530, leaving the family shocked.
According to Singh, the unusually high bill was generated after the installation of a smart meter. He claimed that his household’s electricity usage pattern has remained unchanged and that such a steep increase is difficult to explain.As per the electricity tariff structure, consumers are charged around Rs 3.46 per unit for the first 100 units, while higher slabs attract increased rates. Singh’s bill reportedly reflected a consumption of approximately 1,250 units, resulting in the hefty amount.
Following the bill shock, Singh approached the MahaVitaran office in Shankarnagar and lodged a complaint. He said officials and staff members also visited his residence to inspect the meter and verify the complaint. Singh maintains that his home has a regular domestic electricity connection and that previous bills had never crossed a few thousand rupees.The issue has reignited concerns among consumers regarding smart meters. Several residents have reportedly raised similar complaints, alleging a sudden rise in electricity bills after the installation of the new meters.Consumer groups and local residents have demanded a detailed review of the billing process and verification of smart meter readings. MahaVitaran officials are yet to issue a detailed statement on the specific complaint.
The incident has once again brought the debate over smart meter accuracy and electricity billing transparency into focus, with affected consumers seeking clarity and corrective action.
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