Hearing to decide zero power-cut models survival

The survival of Punes zero loadshedding model will be decided at a Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) hearing on May 28,ahead of the May 31 deadline for renewal.

The survival of Punes zero loadshedding model will be decided at a Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) hearing on May 28,ahead of the May 31 deadline for renewal. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) had on May 14 sought continuance of the model,and also approval for recovery of reliability charges. Many consumer activists too have sought extension of the model.

A statement issued by the Prayas Energy Group cited an MERC order on May 20 that a hearing would be held in the presence of consumer organisations regarding an extension. The MSEDCL is in the process of filing an independent petition before the MERC for approval of reliability charges from Pune consumers; activists had urged the MERC to extend the applicability of its order dated June 20,2008.

The MERC had in its order approved the appointment of an interim franchisee and approval of reliability charge to be recovered from Pune consumers. The order was operational till May 31,2008. MSEDCL had entered into a tripartite agreement with the Tata Power Trading Company (TPC) for the Pune region.

Pradeep Bhargava,former chairman of the state unit of the Confederation of Indian Industries,said TPC has agreed to continue to be the franchisee from June 2009 until the MERC takes its decision on the MSEDCLs petition. Bhargava and other consumer activists said the matter was taken up as they did not want the Pune model to lapse due to administrative hassles.

TPC has to acquire 150 MW or 1.5 million units for 12 hours to keep Pune free of loadshedding. MSEDCL officials said that Pune currently requires power up to 855 MW.

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