Power utility blocks online complaints over unpaid security deposit arrears

Nashik: Power consumers, having outstanding arrears of additional security deposit, are unable to lodge any complaint on the mobile application of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL).This has left the consumers fuming as they claim that the deposit was not part of the service charge and the state power utility was holding the consumers to ransom.The MSEDCL collects security deposit at the beginning when a consumer applies for a new connection. The security deposit demand is approved by the electricity regulator, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, and is revised periodically. This "additional security deposit" can be recovered from the consumers.Consumers, however, have expressed their anger over this step taken by MSEDCL. "My average bill is around Rs700 per month. Since 2014, I settle the payment before the prompt payment date which gives me additional benefits. The other day, when I wanted to register my complaint, the system refused to accept it," Sanjay Jadhav, a resident of Ambad village, said. When he tried to find out the reason, he got a message stating: "...complaint cannot be registered as you have outstanding SD bill arrears of Rs129.""The MSEDCL refused to take my complaint online. I called the engineer and he then fixed the problem," he said.Ramdas Kharade, a resident of Nashik Road, said that his complaint was also refused. An official from MSEDCL's Mumbai office said it has been over a year since the company started taking steps against consumers who have arrears. "The arrears can be paid in six monthly installments. Since the consumers did not settle it, the company took this step. The staff was instructed not to attend to complaints in such cases," the official said.