My experience with the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) has been nothing short of exhausting. It all began with my frustration over high electricity bills — bills that seemed inflated far above my actual consumption.

I raised multiple complaints in the past, only to find them mysteriously “resolved” without any actual solution. They simply vanished from the complaint tracking system. Customer care calls were equally pointless — polite voices, scripted responses, and the same hollow line: “Hope we have answered your query.” The problem? The query is never actually resolved.

Applying for Meter Testing

On 29th June 2025, I officially applied for meter testing, paying the required ₹220. I expected this process to be simple, but I quickly discovered the gaping hole between MSEB’s so-called digital communication and their actual ground-level execution.

Soon after, the area in-charge called — but not to discuss my complaint. Instead, he demanded payment of a ₹6,820 bill (for just two months), without any official notice. When I explained my high-bill issue and informed him about my meter testing request, he casually replied, “I didn’t receive any such request.”

That’s when he “educated” me about a new process for consumer meter testing — a process so cumbersome it almost feels like it’s designed to discourage customers:

1. Request the area in-charge to remove your meter from the society’s meter board and hand it over to you.
2. Carry the meter to your MSEB Sub-Division Office.
3. Get a letter prepared for the testing department, signed by the respective authority.
4. Before you proceed, prepare another letter, signed by a pre-testing authority.
5. Take the meter to the testing department and wait for their availability.
6. Once testing is done, the machine will confirm whether your meter is faulty or not faulty.
7. Collect the official testing report by visiting the MSEB office again.

The Shocking Discovery

When my meter was finally tested, it turned out the meter wasn’t faulty at all. The real issue seemed to be with how meter readings were being recorded.

I went to meet Mr. Mhatre (Phase 1), MSEB Bhingari Sub-Division, Panvel, to request meter reading photos for verification. He bluntly refused, claiming that MSEB stopped capturing photos long ago. His arrogant behavior raised my suspicion even more.

If there’s no photographic record, how can customers cross-check inflated bills? This is serious, and I intend to draft a formal letter to MSEB or use the Right to Information (RTI) to get to the truth.

Switching to a Smart Meter

After 6 hours of running around MSEB offices, I decided to spend 2 more hours and apply for a Smart Meter replacement.

Here’s the shocking part:

• These smart meters are supposed to be free for MSEB customers.
• But I was told to pay ₹2,610.
• Some officials even insisted I transfer the money via personal UPI accounts — a clear red flag.

I refused to make unofficial payments and instead paid through the official MSEB website, sending the receipt to the area in-charge.

If these meters are truly free, this payment should either be adjusted in my bill or refunded.

Final Thoughts

I now hope my new Smart Meter will finally give me accurate consumption data. But this entire episode exposed MSEB’s lethargic, outdated, and un-systematic operations.

Most customers don’t fight back — either because they fear retaliation or because they simply don’t have the time to run from office to office. Many just pay the inflated bill quietly.

But here’s the truth: If we’re paying for a digital system, it should work digitally. No customer should have to physically visit MSEB offices for something that can — and should — be handled online.

I share my story not just as a complaint, but as a wake-up call to both consumers and the system. We deserve transparency, accountability, and a process that respects our time and money.