Sucheta Dalal :Switchover from RelInfra to Tata Power plagued by initial hiccups
Sucheta Dalal

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Switchover from RelInfra to Tata Power plagued by initial hiccups  

November 23, 2009

For the first time, consumers in Mumbai can now enjoy the right to avail services from the power utility of their choice. But this switchover from Reliance infrastructure (RelInfra) to Tata Power is coming along with its own crop of initial hiccups.
The interim order passed by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) on 15 October 2009 states that Tata Power will be allowed to supply power to those existing consumers of RelInfra who wish to receive power from Tata Power.

“I have not got the connection yet. I had applied for it on 13 July 2009. As per the MERC order, the switch has to take place on the meter-reading day. My meter reading was done on the 4th of this month, the bill was produced on the 7th of this month and for the joint meter reading, the officials from Tata Power and Reliance Power came later on the 10th. They could not connect me on the 10th, as my current bill was not paid, since I had received it only two days back. Later on enquiring with Tata Power I was informed that as my last bill was shown unpaid on the connection date, they could not do the switchover as RelInfra wants the last bill to be paid before the switchover takes place. Tata Power volunteered to make the switch within four days, once I pay my bill,” said Diana Dias, a customer with RelInfra who has applied for a switchover to Tata Power.

While clearance of the final bill from the earlier utility provider is one glitch in the switchover, settlement of the security deposit has turned out to be another. “I approached RelInfra and requested them to adjust my security deposit against my bill and (told them that) I would readily pay the balance along with the prorate payment till the day of connection. I was ready to pay for a couple of days extra also. At first they agreed to my offer and volunteered to tell me the exact amount to be paid, but the next day they turned me down. I haven’t yet given up since it was unknown to me and most impractical that I would have to pay a bill that I had just received, else my switchover would not take place,” Ms Dias added. She is not the only one with security deposit woes.

“RelInfra has to pay me an interest of 12.5% per year on the Rs1,460 deposit; that money has not been given to me either by cheque or (adjusted) in the bill,” complains another consumer Rakshpal Abrol, who switched over from Reliance Infra  to Tata Power last month.

Sandeep Ohri, who has been active in pioneering the switchover of power from Reliance Infrastructure to Tata Power, got his connection easily, but not without the initial glitches. “I have been fighting for this switchover from the time the order was passed in July 2009. I had approach RelInfra several times to disconnect their services, but they refused to remove the meter. Tata Power had already provided me with a new meter; however, Reliance refused to remove the existing one. On being told that I would remove it myself, they threatened that they would implicate me under penalty for tampering of the meter. This was resolved later due to the intervention by MERC, with the interim order on how the switchover would take place,” said Mr Ohri.

“They knew I would take up the issue with MERC and hence my switching to Tata Power from RelInfra was smooth. It was done in twenty minutes,” added Mr Ohri.

 However, Mr Ohri also adds that for various other customers, “Reliance is refusing to remove its meters. They are also spreading a lot of other misinformation and rumours that their tariffs are going to be reduced.”

“The tariff determination of all distribution licensees in the State is a prerogative of MERC. As a policy, RelInfra prefers not to react to rumours and speculations of committing any discount or tariff cut-down,” explained a spokesperson from Reliance Infrastructure in a response to an email from Moneylife.

“RelInfra even threatened a few people that if they do not pay the bill they will not allow a Tata meter to be installed for those who have already done the switch,” added Ms Dias.

Rakshpal Abrol shares a similar experience, “I have been receiving a number of phone calls over the past 15 days and they (Reliance customers) all have been facing the same problem of refusal from Reliance to change the meter.” Mr Abrol is the president of an NGO, Bharatiya Udhami Avam Upbhogata Sangh, working actively for clients who want to switch over from Reliance Power to Tata Power.

“The major problem right now is that of the final bill and security deposit. There are people who received the bill as per the date the joint meter reading was taken, but the security deposit was not adjusted in that bill. Reliance on one side is saying you go across the counter and pay the final bill by deducting the security deposit. The person at the counter says he is not informed, and would only accept full bill payment. Now, I get the news that they have not yet prepared the final bills. RelInfra mentioned that for receiving the security deposit, one should give an application letter stating the account number and the money would be transferred into the account on the seventh day. No cheques would be given. But this can be done only after the so-called final bills have been made and paid,” added Ms Dias, who is also the head coordinator and founder member of VOIC (Voice of I C Colony) which has taken up the initiative along with other local NGOs, in and around I C Colony covering around 10,000 consumers in Mumbai’s Dahisar and Borivali areas. The NGO aims at educating and helping these consumers take an informed decision for switching from RelInfra to Tata Power.

“However, we should give both the companies some benefit of doubt because it is their first time. But they should have had the required procedures in place, considering the switch has been in the pipeline since last three-four months,” Ms Dias concluded.

 “RelInfra denies the allegations as they are misconceived and devoid of facts and reiterates that it is facilitating smooth migration of consumers to Tata Power (TPC) in accordance with the MERC guidelines on Operating Procedure for changeover dated 15 Oct 2009,” said the Reliance Infrastructure spokesperson. Officials from Tata Power have refused to comment on the issue, citing the reason of it being “a silent period” till 26 November 2009 on the interim order. As per sources, around 500 Tata switchover connections have been already given
— Amritha Pillay [email protected]


-- Sucheta Dalal