KALYAN: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Tuesday submitted around 2,000 written complaints to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), alleging that consumers in Dombivli have received unusually high electricity bills following the installation of smart meters. Led by Dombivli city president Harshad Patil, MNS workers, along with residents from Palava and other parts of Dombivli East, met MSEDCL officials and demanded a detailed review of the disputed bills. The party urged the power utility to revise the allegedly inflated bills and provide relief to affected consumers. Patil claimed the complaints were collected from residents over the past few weeks and reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the billing pattern after smart meters were installed. “We have submitted nearly 2,000 written complaints to MSEDCL for verification. If consumers are not given justice and the excess billing is not corrected, MNS will launch a protest,” he said. According to residents, electricity bills during the summer months were three to four times higher than usual, despite no significant increase in power consumption. They alleged that the steep rise in bills has placed an unexpected financial burden on many households. The issue has also surfaced in Runwal Gardens township in Dombivli, where a large number of residents have alleged excessive billing following the installation of smart meters. TOI had earlier reported complaints from residents of the township, after which more consumers began submitting representations to MSEDCL seeking a review of their bills. MSEDCL, however, has denied the allegations that smart meters are responsible for inflated electricity bills. Officials maintained that smart meters only record electricity consumption accurately. The utility attributed the higher bills to increased electricity use during the peak summer season, when the use of air conditioners, coolers and other electrical appliances rises significantly.
