Why Tata Power Officials Side-Steps Consumers (?)
Manoj Kanta Dash,Odishabarta
Tata Power flayed for ‘exploiting’ consumers with inflated bills in Ganjam
Berhmapur:As per the allegations, the company is deceiving the customers through pro rata billing, indifferent bill, Meter maintenance, monopoly power-cut which confirm their inability, But they said that consumer don’t get charged for a service if they haven’t used. Customers are made to pay bill for 25-27 days.
The commitment of Tata Power that, Every customer is important to us and TP Southern Odisha Distribution Ltd. (TPSODL) always values our consumers If any consumer have any grievances they appeal to be in touch with the responsible officers and will act promptly hear the consumer grievances on priority basis and at best in the shortest possible time.
To surprise the Tata Power has drawn flak for allegedly exploiting consumers with overstated bills and service-related differences. At a time the Tata Power is raking in the different areas by allegedly monopolies to the customers.
As per the allegations from all sector of community, Organisation,abd Govt & Semi Govt.sector.The company is misleading the customers through pro rata billing (after due date) which ensures that other hand frequent power cut without any prior intimation but on the side they are master to collect their dues (!) Recently they have started street announcement in Berhampur Municipal area last couple of days. This leads to violation of the consumers rights but they said otherwise they shall dis -connect he power supply, which they can’t disconnect the supply and they have no power to do so as they comes under essential service. In such case people can take the shelter of Consumer Court.
In City they have a Luxurious Grievances cell and two senior executives are in charge to listen the public grievance and to dispose with the satisfaction of the consumers’
but to our surprise they never available in their respective seat while people are running post to pillar (!) It means “Sound More but Running Less” (!).OR “Office Opend But the Door is Closed” (!).
Notably, Tata Power is breaching its norms openly; OERC has kept mum on the issue. OERC’s silence, the issue has raised many questions among the Public.
They have admitted and stated that, “We had not done maintenance work last year due to Covid.We are presently looking after maintenance so that our consumers will not have to face power outage in coming days”.
The electricity duty is levied as per Odisha Electricity (Duty) Act, 1961 and the rate prescribed by the state government. Such duties are collected and paid to the State government.”
Executive President Consumers Rights Protection, of Paralakhemund sought that, Follies by TPSODLof southern division operating to supply consumers on daily electricity services.
But, introducing the smart meter sometimes aggravating consumers on their regular uses of electricity consumption.
Merits and demerits of those out sourcing agents who canvass door to door for update meter reading sometimes identified with errors of update units. But they never available before the consumers ‘door on scheduled date as a result Consumers are bound to pay their bill on higher Slab.
Such keen sometimes invisible noticed of update reading penalizing consumers to overpay extra unit cost which they not used.Usually on summer slightly hike on units by using A/C but on rest of season avarage unit cost marked. So TPSCOL sometimes slipped beyond consumers attention where innocent consumers have to pay extra price.
Follies on use of introduced of smart meter turn boomerang for which they must impart awareness program on gravity of introduction of smart meter. Average unit cost of a consumer may be extra 20 to 30 units as per month of his or her uses. On celebrations generally more cost to pay by increase of unit consumptions.
Though we pay gratitude to TPSCOL for occasionally line shutdown & their courtesy call after switch on. This indeed remedial measures but streamline for common consumers to have regular awareness campaign for unit cost & uses guidelines & others.
Private Firms entrusted should have more transparent on this scenario particularly daily services which usually not find in public sector or government line departments. So better late than never TPSODL should acknowledge guidelines for common consumers to smoother use of electricity & pay comfortably the charges.
ODISHAGOVT PROPOSES NO HIKE IN POWER TARIFF FOR 2023-24
The Odisha government has proposed to the OERC not to increase power tariff in 2023-24 financial year.
According to sources, the government, in its proposal to Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), has sighted surplus power generation as the reason for not raising the tariff. The Commission would announce its decision after hearing the distribution companies on March 23.
The government has also directed the distribution companies not to resort to power-cut during the peak load hours across the state.
Energy Minister said with the present generation capacity of around 7,920 MW, the state is able to meet the average peak power demand of 4,500-5,000 MW conveniently.
The transmission system availability is more than 99.9% in the last 10 years.
Besides, more than 100 33/11 KV sub-stations will be commissioned by March 2024 to improve the voltage in low voltage pockets across the state, the minister said.
