Common man spared power tariff hike in Maharastra
By IANSThursday, September 16, 2010
MUMBAI - Maharashtra’s electricity regulatory authority Thursday spared the common man from a hike in power tariff, spelling cheer for nearly 12 million consumers.
The Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC) decided not to slap a power tariff hike for residential consumers having a monthly consumption of up to 300 units.
The move came after the annual performance review of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd and a petition on tariffs.
The MERC’s tariff order said that of its total 17 million consumers, around 12 million comprise residential consumers who consume upto 300 units of power per month.
“There is no increase in tariff of residential consumers having monthly consumption of 0-100 units and 101-300 units,” the order said.
The MERC has, however, hiked the tariff by 4.69 percent for consumers using between 300-500 units - from Rs. 5.97 to Rs.6.25 per unit.
Similarly, for consumers using more than 500 units, the hike is 4.02 percent - from Rs.6.97 to Rs. 7.25 per unit.
The new tariffs - which come to an average increase of 3 percent, are applicable from Sep 1, the order said.
