Maharashtra electricity board proposes 40% tariff hike

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has proposed a 40% hike in tariff for domestic consumers with consumption of up to 100 units per month. It has proposed a moderate hike for domestic consumers in the higher income category and for industries.

The MSEDCL has submitted a petition on its expenditure and revenue requirements to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc). The petition proposes the tariff hikes. The Merc has invited suggestions and objections from the public on the proposal.

The MSEDCL has proposed to increase fixed charges for domestic consumers in all categories from the present Rs30 to Rs60. The tariff for domestic consumers who consume up to 100 units per month is proposed to be increased from the present Rs2.86 per unit to Rs4 per unit.

The president of Maharashtra State Power Consumers’ Association, Pratap Hogade, told DNA that after taking into account the proposed increase in fixed charges, the effective tariff hike for consumers who use up to 100 units is 55%.

The MSEDCL has proposed moderate hikes for other domestic consumers. For consumption from 100 to 300 units, the proposed tariff is Rs5.05 with increase of 3.91% as compared to the present one. For 300 to 500 units, the proposed tariff is Rs7.05 with increase of 3%. For consumption from 500 to 1,000 units, the proposed tariff is Rs8.1 with increase of 2.5%.

The power utility has proposed to double fixed charge for industrial high tension consumers to Rs300 per month. The tariff for continuous supply on express feeder is proposed to be Rs5.95 per unit with increase of 2.4%. For industrial consumers on non-express feeders the proposed tariff is Rs5.45 with increase of 2.64%.

For educational institutes in high tension category, the fixed charges are proposed to be doubled to Rs300 per month with increase by 2.76% for those on express feeders and by 2.7% for those on non-express feeders.

For educational institutes and hospitals on low tension supply of up to 20 kW no changes are proposed in the fixed charges, but tariff of Rs5 per unit is proposed for consumption of up to 200 units with increase of 4.38%. For consumption between 200 and 500 units, the proposed tariff is Rs6.8 with increase of 3.34% and for consumption above 500 units Rs7 per unit with increase of 6.38%.

Suggestions and objections may be sent to the secretary, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, 13th Floor, Centre No 1, World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400005 and email: mercindia@mercindia.org.in by Friday, September 30, 2011. The petition document is available on MSEDCL’s website www.mahadiscom.in.

The commission would conduct public hearings on the MSEDCL proposal in various cities. The hearing in Pune would be held at the Council Hall, 10 am on Wednesday, October 19.