SNDL delays bill delivery, blames consumers

NAGPUR: Strange are the ways of city power franchisee SNDL. If a consumer gets his electricity bill late, SNDL says it is the consumer’s fault and it is not responsible for the consequent monetary loss of the consumer. Due to late delivery of bills, consumer are unable to claim prompt payment incentive (PPI), which is 10% of the bill excluding electricity duty.PPI is given when consumer pays the bill within seven days of issuance.
One such example is Dr Sunil Bajaj, a resident of Raghuji Nagar, who has not been receiving electricity bills of his hospital since last eight to nine months. This time, he decided to lodge a complaint but in vain. His complaint was noted but he was not promised any relief.
Bajaj told TOI, “This time, the last date for claiming discount was June 29. The bill was given to my driver at 5.30pm on June 29. This means I have been deprived of the chance to claim a rebate of 160. I always pay my bill within a day or two of receipt.”
The doctor further said that this residence was only five houses away from his hospital. “The reading for both meters was taken on the same day by the same person. However, the last date for claiming discount for the hospital is June 29 while that for my residence is July 2. This makes no sense,” he added.
Bajaj has alleged that this was a deliberate ploy of SNDL to deny PPI to consumers. “They must have saved lakhs and crores by delaying bills,” he charged.
SNDL spokesperson Dipanshu Khirwadkar at first said that Bajaj had received the bill on June 27 and not June 29 as claimed by the doctor. “However, if there was a delay, we will take action against the concerned vendor,” he said.