Humble submission requesting written clarification from Hon Devendra Fadnavis ji and Hon central minister for Power
Humble submission requesting written clarification from Hon
Devendra Fadnavis ji and Hon central minister for Power
ON SMART METERS, TOD TARIFF & PRIVATISATION POLICY
1. Suppression of True Cost Impact of TOD Tariff
The statement made by Devendra Fadnavis ji is incomplete, as it does not disclose the real financial burden arising from Time-of-Day (TOD) tariff implementation. While projecting marginal reduction (e.g., 90 paise), no disclosure is made regarding peak-hour surcharges.
a) Peak-hour tariffs can result in substantial increase in electricity bills.
b) The structure resembles surge pricing models adopted by Ola, allowing excessive pricing during demand peaks.
c) This creates a hidden mechanism for tariff escalation, not disclosed to the legislature or public.
2. Misrepresentation of “Savings” from Smart Meters
The claim of tariff reduction due to smart meters is factually incorrect and economically misleading.
a) Smart meters are justified on grounds of reducing theft and technical losses.
b) Increased availability of solar energy reduces overall generation cost.
c) Therefore, actual savings should be significantly higher, and limiting it to 90 paise indicates withholding of consumer benefit.
3. Absence of Disclosure on Future Tariff Hikes
There is complete silence on long-term financial implications.
a) No disclosure of maximum permissible tariff hikes under ARR.
b) No clarity on multi-year tariff trajectory.
c) This lack of transparency prevents consumers from assessing their future financial burden.
4. Unjustified Introduction of Peak Hour (Surge) Charges
The introduction of peak-hour pricing lacks justification.
a) Smart meters improve efficiency and reduce losses.
b) Renewable energy increases supply availability.
c) Instead of reducing tariffs, penal pricing is introduced, burdening consumers for essential usage.
5. ₹27,000 Crore Public Investment – No Consumer ROI
Massive public investment has been made without defined benefits.
a) Approximately ₹27,000 crores of public funds are invested.
b) No defined Return on Investment (ROI) for consumers.
c) No guaranteed reduction in tariffs or improvement in service quality, indicating misuse of public funds.
6. Silence on Meter Accuracy & Metrology Certification Issues
Serious concerns regarding meter reliability remain unaddressed.
a) Certificates issued by the State Metrology Department indicate possible manipulation or inaccuracies.
b) No such widespread complaints existed in earlier electronic meters.
c) This raises apprehension of systematic overbilling and lack of accountability.
7. No Binding Assurance on Non-Imposition of Surge Charges
There is no legal or written safeguard for consumers.
a) No assurance that peak/surge charges will not be imposed.
b) No restriction on arbitrary tariff categorisation.
c) Consumers are exposed to unregulated pricing risks.
8. Cost Recovery Through ARR – Hidden Burden on Consumers
The financial burden is being indirectly shifted to the public.
a) No undertaking that smart meter costs will not be recovered through ARR.
b) Taxpayer-funded infrastructure may be recovered again through tariffs.
c) This results in a double financial burden on citizens.
9. Attempt to Convert “Consumers” into “Customers”
There is a fundamental policy shift being attempted.
a) Electricity, an essential service, is being treated as a commercial commodity.
b) The term “consumer” under law ensures protection, whereas “customer” implies a commercial contract with reduced safeguards.
c) This shift dilutes statutory protections under the Electricity Act and weakens public interest obligations.
10. Systematic Move Towards Privatisation of Essential Services
The policy direction indicates gradual transfer of public utilities to private entities.
a) Essential services like electricity distribution are being increasingly handed over to private companies.
b) Public utilities are being structured to appear inefficient to justify privatisation.
c) This undermines the principle of equitable access to essential services.
11. Deliberate Weakening of Public Utilities like BEST & MSEDCL
There appears to be a systematic attempt to weaken public sector utilities.
a) Financial and operational stress is being allowed to accumulate in entities like BEST Undertaking and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
b) Inefficiencies are not addressed but allowed to grow.
c) This creates a narrative to justify eventual handover to private players at undervalued terms.
12. Larger Public Interest & Constitutional Violation
The cumulative effect of these actions is against public interest.
a) Violates principles of transparency, fairness, and accountability.
b) Defeats the objective of affordable and accessible electricity.
c) Results in misleading the legislature and citizens, contrary to constitutional governance norms.
13. Conclusion
The statement made on the Assembly floor is misleading, incomplete, and suppresses material facts.
a) Minor benefits are highlighted while major financial risks are concealed.
b) Long-term burden on consumers is not disclosed.
c) No legal, financial, or regulatory safeguards are provided.
14. Issuance of Oral Assurances Without Binding Written Orders & Resultant Consumer Harassment
References to Ministerial Statements / Submissions
1. Facebook Statement (Video Reference)
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1NMpaiTGfW/�
2. Instagram Reel (Public Reaction / Ground Reality Evidence)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV-gEoLklZq/?igsh=YnBmNDRsc2dvcTB3�
3. Parliament Statement Reported in News (Lok Sabha Submission)
https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/prepaid-power-meters-not-mandatory-defaulters-may-be-shifted-govt-in-lok-sabha/articleshow/129970376.cms�
“Statements made publicly and in Parliament (Annexure A colly)” and attach these three links/screenshots as Annexure A1, A2, A3 for public awareness
4. https://x.com/i/status/2036701702884380977
Peak hours costing increased inspite of Rs. 3.03 lacs crores being spent closing reduction of losses and theft and increase in solar energy available in abundance
There is a clear and consistent pattern wherein Ministers, including make oral statements on the floor of the Assembly and Parliament, but fail to issue corresponding written directions or statutory orders, thereby rendering such assurances meaningless and misleading.
a) Despite statements that prepaid smart meters are not mandatory, as also reflected in public reporting such as The Economic Times, there are no binding written orders restraining authorities from coercive implementation.
b) Smart meters are being installed in violation of such statements, through force, threat, and coercion, defeating legislative accountability and public trust.
c) There is no grievance redressal mechanism to address inflated or erroneous bills, while instances reported widely (including on social media platforms like Instagram) show immediate disconnection of electricity, violating principles of natural justice.
d) Such harsh and disproportionate action against ordinary consumers stands in stark contrast to the leniency shown towards large defaulters and industrialists, where lakhs of crores of public money are waived, exposing arbitrary and discriminatory governance.
e) Similarly, developers are granted relaxations and allowed to violate statutory provisions, while strict and punitive measures are selectively imposed on individual consumers, amounting to hostile discrimination.
f) The claim that smart meters are “post-paid” is false and misleading, as documentary evidence clearly establishes that upon full implementation, the system is intended to be converted into a prepaid regime, fundamentally altering consumer rights without informed consent.
g) The forced installation and operation of smart meters under threat of disconnection violates statutory safeguards under the Electricity Act, including:
i) Section 47(5) – Security deposit regulations
ii) Section 55 – Use of correct and certified meters
iii) Section 56 – Disconnection safeguards
iv) Section 61 – Tariff determination principles
v) Section 171 – illegal notices concealing true facts, amounts to forgery, cheating and criminal breach of trust by public servants.
Offences relating to coercion and unlawful enforcement of smart meters and looting the consumer
This conduct reflects a deliberate bypassing of legal safeguards, legislative intent which do not protect the consumer but cause windfall wrongful gains to electricity companies, and consumer protection framework, warranting immediate judicial and regulatory intervention.
This requires immediate disclosure, regulatory intervention, and judicial scrutiny to protect public interest and prevent exploitation of citizens.
Please educate me if my submission is incorrect
Date 3.4.26
Kamlakar Shenoy Gaurang R Vora Chetan Trivedi Zuhair QZ
Jai Hind
MyBmc BEST Undertaking Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. Tata Power Adani Electricity Adani Solar Adani Group Paridhi K. Adani Samir Adani MLA Dadarao Keche - आमदार दादाराव केचे Mla Captain Tamil Selvan MLA Chandrabhan Singh MLA Jarnail Singh MLA Ravi Rana Rahul Narwekar - राहुल नार्वेकर Rahul Gandhi Amin Patel Milind Deora @highlight Arvind Sawant Poonam Pramod Mahajan Varsha Gaikwad BJP Mumbai BJP Maharashtra Rais Shaikh Samajwadi Party Shaina Nc NCPSpeaks_Official ShivSena YuvaSena ShivSena Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray CMOMaharashtra President of India PMO India