Pune: MSEDCL has sent PMC two separate notices for Rs 4.14 lakh for unauthorized electricity usage at two establishments.The civic body operates a gymnasium within the premises of Lokmanya Nagar Garden and Chandrakant Botre gymnasium and Madhukar Budhkar study centre within the premises of Dharmaveer Sambhaji Maharaj Primary School, the power company stated in the notice issued to the executive engineer of PMC.The school is located on Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road and the garden is situated in the Lokmanya Nagar society in Navi Peth. These two gymnasiums and the study centre are currently operational.The garden has unpaid dues of Rs 1.81 lakh and the school has not paid an electricity bill of up to Rs 2.33 lakh. MSEDCL has issued two separate notices to PMC under section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003.“The two establishments used an existing connection for pole light to power appliances within the premises. So this constitutes unauthorised use. It was not adhering to the purpose for which the connection was given and does not qualify as theft, which is why notices were issued under section 126 and not under section 135, which constitutes theft,” an MSEDCL spokesperson said.MSEDCL has provided a regular timeframe to the corporation to repay the dues as per the norms and PMC has intimated its intent to pay the bill, he added. Typically, consumers can pay their bills in 21 working days after the due date, following which there is a 15-day notice period given to the consumers. The electricity bills of the two entities have left unpaid for almost a year since June 2024, an MSEDCL spokesperson said. The gymnasium and the study centre located in the school premises consumed 5,701 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, while the gymnasium in the garden consumed 6,368 kWh of electricity.The gymnasium in the garden had installed two bulbs, 16 tube lights, seven ceiling fans and one exhaust fan, while the gymnasium and study centre in the school installed 43 tube lights, 16 fans, one television screen, four CCTV cameras and one treadmill, as per the notice.“MSEDCL sought an explanation from the PMC representatives running the garden and the school regarding the duration for which the gymnasiums and the study centre are operational. Since the power company did not receive any clear timeframe at the time of issuing the notice, it has sought payment of dues along with a penalty,” stated the notice issued to the executive engineer of PMC.Akshay Jain, president of the media department of Maharashtra Pradesh Youth Congress, raised the issue with MSEDCL to take action against PMC. “Even if PMC repays the dues, public money is wasted through improper management leading to penalties,” he said.
