MSEDCL violating power cut protocol,says Prayas

Even as the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited said that there will be no loadshedding in Konkan and Eastern Vidharba region of the state,activists from Prayas Energy Group have complained about violation of load shedding protocol by the power utility.

Pratap Hogade,secretary,Maharashtra Electricity Consumer Association,said a hearing on the issue will be held on May 16 in Mumbai. Ashwini Chitnis and Shantanu Dixit of Prayas Energy Group in a statement has charged the power utility with the blatant violation of the loadshedding protocol and in their letter to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission have objected the protocol. MSEDCL had issued a circular on April 21 regarding a new protocol of loadshedding which would be based on distribution and transmission losses and regular payment of bills.

This according to activists is unfair. MSEDCL has unilaterally defined a new protocol for load shedding. Such action is clearly in violation of the commission’s order as well as the SC judgment,they said. In the city,the utility has started loadshedding in areas with large bill arrears from May 2. Areas identified were in Yerawada,Pimpri and Bhosari.

However,according to MSEDCL officials,this has helped several regions to steer clear of loadshedding. There are no more power cuts in Konkan and east Vidarbha region. All five divisions in Konkan and 18 divisions in east Vidarbha will not have power cuts.

According to an RTI reply,consumers owe MSEDCL Rs 65 crore in dues. The information came on a RTI application moved by V Sahasrabuddhe of Sajag Nagrik Manch.