In South Mumbai, rising discontent among residents has emerged over the recent implementation of an additional security deposit for electricity bills, coinciding with the installation of smart meters. This new charge has incited a backlash, leading , a former opposition leader of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), to petition the Bombay High Court for its annulment. The introduction of this deposit has provoked frustration among consumers, who argue it is unnecessary given that the BEST Undertaking already holds existing meter deposits. Residents from Mumbadevi and Peddar Road have expressed their grievances, with one citing the online payment process as overly complex and cumbersome.
has actively taken to social media to highlight the community’s concerns, tagging Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in his posts to amplify their voices. He questions the necessity of this additional deposit, especially as the rollout of smart meters in residential areas has been temporarily suspended by BEST. Raja points out that this new financial burden arrives three years after the provision was first established in 2021. In defence of the new charge, a BEST official stated that the additional deposit is compliant with the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) Electricity Supply Code, a regulation they argue is essential for maintaining operational standards in line with other state power utilities.
Amidst this turmoil, Raja suggests that the true motive behind the additional deposit may be to offset the substantial financial shortfalls of BEST’s transport division, which is grappling with a projected deficit of approximately ₹2,000 crore for the current fiscal year. He draws parallels to a similar situation in 2012 when a levy intended to cover transport losses was introduced but subsequently rescinded following public backlash. BEST officials, however, assert that this additional deposit pertains solely to the power supply division, with intentions to raise around ₹200 crore from approximately 10.8 million consumers to enhance financial stability amidst rising operational costs.
