Load increase for EV charging: Govt official asking for a hefty bribe

I applied for it 8 months ago and no one has shown up at our apartment to date.

BHPian sumannandy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I need a little help from fellow members here. I applied for a load increase for EV charging last year in December. Even in the last 8 months, the executive engineer did not send his team to our apartment (every time my driver calls or visits, he says Govt work takes time). One application was also rejected citing “lack of documentation”. Now he has asked for a bribe of Rs. 50,000.

I would request help from fellow members on this. How much is the actual fees? Also, what documents are required and any guidelines in the preparation of the documents? What is the ideal timeline I could expect and is there any escalation mechanism?

Thanks a lot.

Here’s what GTO had to say about the matter:

You could just get a simpler 15A plug which I believe suits the needs of 90% EV owners – link to my thread (Why a cheap & simple 15A plug is just fine for home-charging your Electric Car).

Here’s what BHPian sagarpadaki had to say about the matter:

Sad state of affairs. Is yours a 3-phase or a single-phase connection? IIRC, for a single phase, the max load can be 5KW.

I suggest you hire an approved electrical contractor in your area and get this done through him. He will charge you some fees and some bribe as well. But since they have the right contacts, you can get it done at a lower cost.

Here’s what BHPian condor had to say about the matter:

Like SagarPadaki says – get hold of an electrical contractor to do it – but remember to hold back at least 5% till all work is done – including getting your copy of the documents.

Here’s what BHPian Turbanator had to say about the matter:

You should demand what all documentation is missing and get it completed. Tell him that you are going to move an RTI application and also put on social media about the harassment (only if you are 100% correct). Things are changing, someone here tried similarly with us. They told us to fill in the documents and refer to the documentation, we marked our reply at multiple levels with all documents including their HQ. It was all cleared in about two weeks.

Extra happens when we are wrong and cannot correct, and that starts this whole thing. Departments start demanding even when everything is in order. Since you have waited 8 months already, stick with the right way and get everything done per law.

Here’s what BHPian libranof1987 had to say about the matter:

+1 on the recommendation of filing an RTI. It is hearteningly impressive what an RTI does to Govt. offices; it is borderline funny how they suddenly scamper to get work done.

Tread carefully on the second bit though (social media). These guys still command a lot of power (pun not intended) and can be petty and vengeful. Years back while staying in BTM Layout (three flats, one each of a ground + 2 bungalow-building), one tenant family refused to give the BBMP water guys diwali baksheesh. Next thing we know, the landlady gets a bill of 100x of the regular amount. Our water line gets cut, she lodges a complaint, the meter gets taken away for “investigation”, and we had to rely on good neighbours for water.

We’ve had the same experience in Pune when getting our local discom to get us energy credit for solar panel installation – no engineer visit for several years, and then a bribe later, everything moved at lightning speed.

Tread pragmatically.

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