Mumbai: Consumers Agitated As Power Bills Spike After Adani Takes Over

Ever since Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd. took over the power circle in Mumbai in August 2018, the residents have been complaining about the sharp spike in the amounts of electricity bills. Previously, the power distribution was under Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure (Rinfra).

The agitated consumers and the Congress party have taken to Twitter, blaming Adani’s company for the sharp increase in the bills in October. Consumers have complained about the bill costing double of their usual electricity bills. Highlighting the spike, a resident, Karan Punwani, took to Twitter to share his story.

His tweet read, “Bro average bill was 900-1200 rs. 1st month of Adani 3200 and 2nd Month of Adani bill came 5200. Let’s switch to @TataPower.” Another resident tweeted, “Jun, July and October! Can’t locate my September bill but it was 1400/- before June, my bill ranged from 600 to 850 max.”

Questioning how the cost has been doubled, prominent musician, Vishal Dadlani, tweeted, “Virtually everyone I know has this issue (at least, specifically in Bandra!) Ppl wondering where Adani Electricity suddenly sprang from, how Reliance suddenly disappeared and on what basis their bills have virtually doubled. Of course, news guys haven’t picked up on it yet.”

While social media was buzzing with consumers fuming over the bill, Congress also launched an attack at Modi and Adani group chairman Gautam Adani. Emphasising the friendship between Adani and Modi, senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said, “Instead of encouraging privatisation in an honest way, the Modi-led BJP government has created an environment where private firms are looting the common people. Initially, Anil Ambani looted the people, and now the Adani is doing the same. Aren’t Ambani and Adani close friends with Modi?”

Meanwhile, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited (AEML) told DNA in an email, “Rinfra filed a tariff petition to MERC on December 22, 2017. MERC conducted a public hearing on August 2, 2018, and reserved the order. Adani took over Rinfra’s Mumbai electricity business on August 28, 2018, and a tariff revision order was issued by MERC on September 12, 2018, which is effective from September 1, 2018.” “The tariff increase has no correlation with Adani taking over Mumbai distribution business. It is only a coincidence that the timing of tariff revision coincided with the takeover. Further, the electricity consumption rises in the month of October every year after Monsoon, due to increasing temperatures and humidity...”

Since September, a surge has been witnessed in the amount of the electricity bills. Following the complaints by the consumer, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a committee to look into the matter.