Odisha's energy consumers were deeply offended by Tata Power's recent delivery of more security deposit demand notices. A number of customers have reported getting SMS warnings requesting them to make extra deposits within 30 days, ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000.
Consumer associations have fiercely opposed the action, questioning the demand's timing and rationale. Many customers claim they were not given advance notice of any security deposit review and are still unsure of the methodology used to determine the increased sums.
People in Bhubaneswar and other areas have attested to have received these notices. Sweta Samal, a customer from Bhubaneswar, claimed she was told to deposit the extra security money within a month.

The Salipur Electricity Consumers' Association, on the other hand, has publicly criticised the ruling, threatening protests and claiming that the increased cost to customers is unwarranted.
When we received this month's electricity bill, we were taken aback. Why are they requesting an additional security deposit? Our monthly electricity payment is being paid. Why are we going to pay the additional sum? We are starting to feel burdened by it," Bhubaneswar customer Sweta Samal stated.
"We will demonstrate against Tata Power defrauding customers under the guise of obtaining an extra security deposit. We will formally start getting ready for the demonstration. Nanda Kishore Bhuyna, a member of the Salipur Electricity Consumers' Association, stated that the business has to stop harassing customers.

Customers must pay a security deposit, which is determined by the authorised load, at the time of getting an electricity connection under current regulations. The deposit is typically equal to two months' worth of electricity bills, according to rules set forth by the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC). The regulations also permit a reevaluation of a customer's electricity use during the preceding 12 months in order to examine security deposits following an annual rate revision.
The customer may be obliged to pay the difference if the updated computation reveals that the required security deposit is more than the current deposit by more than ten percent. Subsequent electricity bills are adjusted if the difference is less than 10%.

Customers and organisations, however, are wondering why Tata Power conducted a security deposit assessment when there hasn't been an increase in electricity prices in the previous four years. The lack of prior notification to customers and the lack of a particular agreement addressing additional security deposits at the time of giving energy connections have also drawn criticism.
The OERC is currently considering a case pertaining to the collection of substantial amounts from customers through comparable additional security deposit notices issued in prior years, which further exacerbates the controversy. In spite of this, Tata Power has sent out new notifications this year.It has been stated in sections 53 and 54 that an additional security deposit must be collected the next year if the tariff rises in a given year. For the past four years, there has been no increase in tariffs. Anand Mohapatra, a power sector analyst, asked, "What was the need to review then?
Tata Power emphasised in a press release that the extra security deposit is unrelated to the installation of smart meters, but it has not directly addressed consumer concerns. The business insisted that the procedure was carried out in compliance with OERC standards and the Electricity Act of 2003.