Journalism of Courage
The new order by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) allowing the state power utility to hike tariff has generated strong opposition from consumers and activists.
The MERC tariff order is disappointing and marks a new low,Prayas Energy Groups coordinator Ashwini Chitnis said.
The MERC,in its order on Thursday,allowed Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to raise power tariff in the state by 16.48 per cent owing to high costs and rising fuel prices. The revised tariff is applicable from August 1.
Chitnis said the order lacked analytical rigour and innovation in dealing with the three most critical issues power purchase,capital expenditure and load shedding and losses (both of which are directly related to agricultural consumption). The order has imposed a heavy tariff burden on small consumers,she said.
The order is a letdown,Vivek Velankar,coordinator of Sajag Grahak Manch said. This is the highest hike for the MSEDCL consumers so far, he said. Velankar added that while the MERC,in its order,has claimed that the hike for domestic users,whose consumption is 1-100 or 100-300 unites,the hike is only 9 per cent,the increase actually amounts to 20 per cent if one takes into consideration other duties.
No action has been taken on the mounting arrears of MSEDCL,said Pratap Hogade,coordinator of the Maharashtra Electricity Consumer Organisation. He termed order as a high-voltage shock. A statement issued by Hogade said the organisation will file an appeal against the order in the Appellate Tribunal of Electricity,New Delhi. This is the worst power tariff order as the commission has granted more than what MSEDCL had sought, Hogade said. Despite vehement opposition,the MERC has accepted the power utilitys demands,he said.
Suryakant Pathak,president of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat said the order had not taken cognisance of woes of domestic consumers. They have not made statements regarding MSEDCL feeder losses,he said.
