ULHASNAGAR: Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) will deploy a dedicated technical team and vehicle in Ulhasnagar to address the growing number of complaints related to smart meters and inflated electricity bills.The decision was taken at a meeting held at MSEDCL’s Tejashree office in Kalyan West, chaired by Ulhasnagar MLA Kumar Ailani. MSEDCL director (operations) Dhananjay Audhekar and chief engineer Chandramani Mishra attended the meeting.Audhekar directed officials to send the technical team to consumers’ homes to inspect meters and resolve complaints. If required, old and smart meters will be installed in series to verify consumption and ensure that consumers are not charged incorrectly.The meeting was held after Ailani raised Ulhasnagar’s power-related issues with the chief minister. Audhekar was specifically deputed to review the problems and expedite corrective measures.MSEDCL will provide around 100 high-capacity transformers to Ulhasnagar and make additional cables available, Audhekar said. The utility will also initiate steps to underground the cable network. While the city has a sufficient number of engineers, additional manpower will be deployed to address the shortage of linemen, he said.Ailani pointed out that Ulhasnagar is a major commercial centre and attracts residents and traders from different parts of Maharashtra. Frequent power outages were causing inconvenience to residents and businesses and adversely affecting the city’s image, he said.Issues including inflated power bills, substations in the Saibaba area, 17 Section and Antilia, replacement of transformers, shortage of staff and timely disposal of consumer complaints were also discussed.To improve complaint redressal, MSEDCL will install QR codes at various locations to enable consumers to register complaints. Ailani and UMC deputy mayor Amar Lund assured officials that they would help identify land required for the installation of transformers and construction of substations.MSEDCL also agreed to separate residential and commercial feeders, following a demand raised by BJP district president Rajesh Vadhrya. Lund sought a permanent solution to short-circuit problems in underground cables instead of repeatedly replacing sections of the cables.Audhekar also assured that the security deposit collected for temporary electricity meters during Ganeshotsav would be refunded to consumers’ accounts. Funds for a new substation would be sanctioned once land is made available.He warned that action would be taken against any MSEDCL employee found misbehaving with consumers.Issuing a stern warning to engineers posted in Ulhasnagar, Audhekar said, “Bring about a change in Ulhasnagar or be prepared for transfer.” He added that if no visible improvement was found by the next review meeting, action would be initiated against the officials concerned.The meeting was attended by Amar Lund, Rajesh Vadhrya, corporators Lal Punjabi, Nand Chhapru and Tony Sirwani, representatives of the traders’ association Meghraj Lund, Sachchanand Goplani and Naresh Tharwani, and manufacturing association representative Vinod Punjabi.
