Pune : If it is not possible to pay the bill of additional security deposit along with the electricity bill in lump sum or in six monthly installments, the option of demand for prepaid meter is available to the consumers. No security deposit is required on the prepaid meter, and there is a five per cent discount on electricity rates, said an electricity expert. At present, all the consumers in the state have been billed for additional security deposit. This has created confusion among consumers. The actual security deposit is charged by the consumers as per the actual power supply code of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Previously, the security deposit amount was about one month’s bill. Now it has doubled to two months’ bill.
The Electricity Regulatory Commission has also given six monthly installment concessions to consumers to pay this amount. Following the Maharashtra Electricity Consumers Association’s follow-up, MSEDCL has started sending SMS to customers stating that security deposit can be paid in six installments. However, many customers have not received these SMS. So consumers are confused about how to pay the bill for additional security deposits.
Pratap Hogade, Senior Electricity Expert and President of Maharashtra Electricity Consumers Association gave information on this background. ‘Consumers will be able to pay the additional security deposit bill in lump sum or in six equal monthly installments. However, the prepaid meter option is available for customers who have a large amount of additional security deposit or cannot afford to pay this amount even in six monthly installments due to financial difficulties arising out of corona. Security deposit is not required for prepaid meter. If the customer accepts the option of prepaid meter, the current deposit security deposit is credited to the customer’s prepaid account. The amount of his next electricity consumption is deducted from it. An additional five per cent discount is available for prepaid meter customers, ‘said Pratap Hegde.
