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Even as the whole state reels under prolonged power cuts, the people from power minister Sunil Tatkare's assembly constituency and nearby areas are going to get complete relief from the problem by paying a pittance. MSEDCL has finalised a petition that proposes to make urban and semi-urban areas of Pen MSEDCL circle free from load shedding by levying a surcharge of only 18 paise per unit.

If the proposal is ayed by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), then a person consuming 1000 units per month, that is using three to four air-conditioners, will have to pay only Rs 180 monthly surcharge to enjoy uninterrupted power supply.  The low surcharge has been calculated by levying surcharge on big industries in Pen circle. Strangely, these industries do not suffer from any power cuts but MSEDCL still proposes to levy surcharge for power that they will not consume.

MSEDCL has used similar approach to make Pune, Baramati, Thane and Vashi load shedding free. However, in all these cities the surcharge is 40 paise per unit or more due to lesser number of big industries. Pen circle has 96.3 MW load in urban and semi-urban areas and 35 MW load of industries having one weekly load shedding day. On the other hand industries and other installations enjoying 24x7 power supply is 540 MW.

While MSEDCL is purchasing power to do away with load shedding for 96.3 MW urban and semi-urban load and 35 MW industrial load, it proposes to levy surcharge on 669 MW including big industries. Apparently, (MERC) does not have any problem with MSEDCL's robbing Peter to pay Paul policy.

The technical validation session for the petition was held on February 26 along with those for Nagpur and Amravati. While MERC raised several queries regarding petitions for Nagpur and Amravati, it had few queries regarding Pen. As a result MSEDCL was able to finalise the petition on March 2. It had to wait till May because of election code of conduct.

Meanwhile, Vidarbha Industries Association's (VIA) R B Goenka said that he had sought all the details of the petition filed by MSEDCL for Pen. "VIA is strongly going to oppose such a discrimination." Goenka further said that he would file a review petition regarding the final zero load shedding order issued by MERC for Vashi and Thane.



Source - Times of India