Celebrities raise voice as Mumbaikars notice unusual surge in their electricity bills

Celebrities and Mumbai residents are in shock after a surge in their electricity bills for the month of June. Many share their grievances on social media

People poured discontent against the power giants for sending unusually high power electricity bills due to faulty meter readings. In Mumbai,  MSEDCL (Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company), Adani Electricity, BEST and Tata Power supply power.

MSEDCL is managed by the Government of Maharashtra which supports electricity in adjoining districts. Customers from all cities have complained about the exorbitant electricity bills.

After learning about the concerns of the residents and celebrities, Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray tweeted that the complaints of the consumers shall be addressed on an urgent basis.

Taking stock of the rising number of consumer complaints related to exorbitant electricity bills, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has directed power companies to show transparency in its billing procedures and redress the consumer complaints immediately.

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) June 30, 2020

Clarifying on the issue of high bills, Adani Power said, "We have re-started physical meter reading which was temporarily halted since March because of Covid-19. Bills were generated on the lower side being an average of preceding three months i.e. Dec, Jan & Feb, which are winter months. Actual consumption in the months of Apr, May & June is comparatively higher due to seasonal impact (summer) and increased usage (the advent of lockdown/work from home). Now the consumers will start receiving the bills based on their actual consumption with appropriate tariff slab benefits. The bill amount for the past period shall be accounted for as per MERC guidelines.”

During tough times like these where business and economic activities are at their all-time low, people cannot afford to pay such swelled up electricity charges and this has left both commoners and celebrities upset and concerned.

Take a look at these tweets from angered celebrities:

My electricity bill from @Adani_Elec_Mum is ridiculous.

My normal bill is between Rs 2600-Rs 2800 per month. This bill is Rs 15,800!!!

There is Rs 9,000 added for last month's bill which makes no sense because last month's bill of (Rs 2600)was paid in full

anyone else?

— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) June 29, 2020

And this one is for an apartment where no one stays n it’s only visited once in a week for cleaning purpose @Adani_Elec_Mum I am now worried if someone is actually using the apartment without our knowledge and you have helped us uncover the reality ??‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/GeBQUSJaft

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee)

And this one is for an apartment where no one stays n it’s only visited once in a week for cleaning purpose @Adani_Elec_Mum I am now worried if someone is actually using the apartment without our knowledge and you have helped us uncover the reality ??‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/GeBQUSJaft

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) June 28, 2020

28, 2020

Anyone else in Mumbai get an electricity bill that is triple what they usually pay?

— Vir Das (@thevirdas) June 27, 2020

3 months of lockdown and I wonder what appliance(s) I have newly used or bought in the apartment only last month to have such an insane rise in my electricity bill. @Adani_Elec_Mum what kind of POWER r u charging us for? pic.twitter.com/jZMMoxDMgj

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) June 28, 2020

Dear @Adani_Elec_Mum I got a bill of Rs5510/= on the 9th of May while in June I got a bill of Rs 29,700 combining May & June where you've charged me Rs 18080 for the month of May. How did Rs.5510/= become Rs.18080/=? pic.twitter.com/64zlmNe8Qo

— Renuka Shahane (@renukash) June 28, 2020

What are these new electricity rates ?? @Adani_Elec_Mum Last month I paid 6k .. and this month 50 k ????!!! What is this new price surge ?? Kindly enlighten us

— Huma S Qureshi (@humasqureshi) June 29, 2020

The electricity bills are crazyyyyyy now..just paid 26000 plus last night ????? #adanielectricity

And my usage is the same...not increased coz of the lockdown...

— Shraddha das (@shraddhadas43) June 26, 2020

So many people taking about the absolutely ridiculous electricity bill inflation by @Adani_Elec_Mum!

And yet no correction or apology!

Meter reading can’t be an excuse for this broad daylight robbery at a time when most people don’t have sources of income! HORRIBLE!

— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) June 29, 2020

Lol. Imagine not living in a house since April and then getting two bills that cost the amount of 5 houses combined! ?

First #COVID the petrol and now electricity. A never ending heist.

— Amyra Dastur (@AmyraDastur93) June 29, 2020

Contemplating using only one light bulb at home after seeing all the Adani Electricity bills for June pic.twitter.com/euFAcdcITC

— Ashwin Mushran (@ashwinmushran) June 29, 2020

So what kind of scam is @Adani_Elec_Mum conducting in mumbai? June electricity bill close to 1lakh... (based on their "estimates" since they could not do meter reading during lockdown) hearing lots of similar complaints from Mumbaikars.

@AdaniOnline @CMOMaharashtra

— Karthika Nair (@KarthikaNair9) June 25, 2020

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