The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (Mahavitaran) has decided to revise power tariff by three per cent effective from today (Monday), thus giving a 'shock' to over 2.40 crore consumers, who will have to shell out more money to meet the power bills.
The Mahavitaran which has already implemented three per cent hike since September last, will now be implementing further 3 percent hike. Taking into consideration, this total six per cent hike and a hidden hike of nearly 6 per cent in the fuel adjustment charges (FAC), eventually the total burden will be 12 percent effective April 1, 2019, Maharashtra Power Consumers’ Association (MPCA) President Pratap Hogade said and added that in fact FAC should be withdrawn after the tariff rates are revised. But 'Mahavitaran' has been colleting FAC clandestinely.
The rates after tariff revision will be : Domestic consumers-0-100 units-existing rate-Rs.04.30 per unit ( proposed rate Rs.4.33 PU), 101-300 units- existing rate-Rs.08.03 per unit ( proposed rate Rs.08.23 PU), 301-500 units- existing rate-Rs.11.05 per unit ( proposed rate Rs.11.18 PU) and 500 -1000 units-existing rate-Rs.11.80 PU (proposed rate-Rs. 12.78 PU).
“In fact the cost of the power purchase by 'Mahavitaran' has come down and it is less in the last 4 years. It stood as: 2014-2015- Rs.3.87 PU, 2015-2016- Rs.3.82 PU, 2016-2017- Rs.3.78 PU and 2017-2018- Rs.3.92 PU. Despite this why Mahavitaran is collecting higher FAC is not clear,” Hogade said and added that Mahavitaran has reduced the Power Factor Incentive by 3.5 per cent. Because of lead power factor penalty, industrial consumers are facing a penalty of 5 to 15 per cent.
Impact of FAC on average billing rate: new tariff effective from first September 2018:FAC charges in February 2019 for Industrial consumers (33KV) - 32 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-36 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-27 paise per unit, in January 2019- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -56 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-62 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-46 paise per unit, in December 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -44 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-49 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-36 paise per unit, in November 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -27 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-36 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-21 paise per unit, in October 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -80 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-82 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-61 paise per unit, in September 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -42 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-55 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-32 paise per unit.
FAC charges as per earlier tariff up to 31 August 2018)- August 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -15 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-20 paise per unit and LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-11 paise per unit. July 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -0 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-0 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-0 paise per unit. June 2018- for Industrial consumers (33KV) -32 Paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-44 paise per unit/ LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-25 paise per unit,
Total FAC between Sept 2018 to Feb 2019 - Industrial consumers (33KV) -281 paise per unit, residential consumers 101-300 units-320 paise per unit and LT industrial consumers (below 70 HP)-223 paise per unit. We have already brought this to the notice of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) and awaiting its reply, Hogade said.