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Electricity bills for Maharashtra consumers may rise 5-6 per cent

MUMBAI: Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), which supplies power to parts of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and rest of state, has proposed a hike of 5-6% in electricity charges for residential consumers.  However, offering a sweetener to industry, the hike proposed is just 2%. For high tension (HT) commercial users such as business houses, shops and malls, the rate hike is proposed at just 1%. This was indicated in the mid-term review petition filed before the MERC.  The good news for over 2.5 crore consumers is that the hike will remain constant for two financial years till March 31, 2020. Interestingly, the power utility firm has proposed a 0.5% rebate for all consumers who use the online method to pay electricity bills on time. It has also proposed a rebate of Re 1 per unit for those who set up new industries in the state and take a fresh connection. 

This could prevent industries from migrating to other states and boost the Make-in-Maharashtra campaign, sources said. “This year, we have also proposed a separate category for Electric Vehicle Charging station -- whose rate will be Rs 6 per unit to charge batteries of cars and bikes,” said a senior official. The objective is to encourage more citizens to switch to zero-emission electric vehicles. 

MSEDCL also proposes to set up 50 charging stations across Maharashtra -- along the Mumbai -Nagpur corridor. It has also proposed five charging stations on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and a few more along the Mumbai-Nashik highway so that citizens can travel by electric cars. 

As for the low-end residential category of 0-100 units consumption, the power utility firm has proposed a negligible hike of 0.02% or 8 paise. This spells relief for 1.20 crore consumers across Maharashtra. For the remaining residential consumers, the hike will be 6% for those in the 101-300 units bracket and 5% for those consuming over 300 units every month, the fresh petition proposed. 

The commission has proposed a uniform tariff for ll Railways, Metro and Monorail operations whose hike for basic energy charge is proposed at 2%. MERC will conduct public hearings and seek comments from consumer representatives and other groups.