‘Rs1,100 cr shock for 2.4 cr state electricity users’

MUMBAI: More than 2.4 crore power users in the state — including about 17 lakh from Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Thane and Navi Mumbai — have paid Rs1,100 crore more on power bills. This is allegedly because the power supplier, MSEDCL, bought power from the state’s power generator, Mahagenco, even while cheaper power was available from generators outside the state.
This is what consumer forums alleged during a public hearing at MSEDCL’s tariff petition on Thursday.These forums now demand that the state’s power regulator, MERC, recover this cost to render justice to them.
MSEDCL’s tariff petition for the fiscal 2016-17 to 2019-20 has proposed an average 6% hike for residential users for each fiscal while it is more than 12% for commercial and industrial users. According to MSEDCL, this hike has been proposed to compensate the average annual rate of inflation over the last few years.
Sources with the state power supplier did not deny the charges made but they refused to go on record. However, its officials claimed that many industries had moved on to other power suppliers, affecting the state’s revenue.
A senior MSEDCL official said, “If the tariff is not increased, there will be deficit of Rs56,372 crore. This will also affect the consumers services and deteriorate financial condition of the utility,” pointing out that it was essential to increase the tariff.
SoBo power theft cases busted: BEST makes 6 residential users pay 75 lakh
Over the last three days, BEST, with help from the police, busted one of the major power thefts among residential users. It slapped a penalty of about Rs75 lakh on nearly six consumers who stole power through unmetered wires. BEST will probe if any of its officers are hand in glove with these culprits.
Mohammed Jafar Mustafa Khan, an Agripada resident who occupied three flats in the same building has been booked for stealing power by using direct connection in the absence of meters. He has been slapped with a fine of about 50 lakh. According to R J Singh from the BEST’s vigilance department, Khan continued with direct supply for more than four years.