Mumbai: State electricity regulator, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), has decided to undertake a third-party verification of agricultural sales to get an accurate assessment of agricultural power consumption in the state. It will take at least a year to complete the assessment as the regulator will have to consider sales during different agricultural seasons as the energy requirements may differ, according to MERC member Mukesh Khullar.
In an interactive session held at the Mumbai Press Club on Monday, Mr Khullar said, “We feel that there are discrepancies in the data received on agricultural sales from Maharashtra State Energy Distribution Company (MSEDC). To ensure accurate assessment of such sales, we have decided to set up a committee which will undertake third-party verification.”
Mr Khullar said that the report was expected to be completed and submitted by 2020. The study was conducted by the MSEDL in the past through an expert committee of IIT Mumbai after receiving directives from MERC. Asked why a study was again required, Mr Khullar said, “The distribution company has not yet submitted the report. Nonetheless, we felt that there is a need to commission a study directly under the aegis of the MERC.”
He said that such an independent study would bring in more transparency, define the scope accurately, and make sales estimation more robust.
He said that the methodology finalised through this study would form the basis for approval of agricultural sales during truing up exercise to be carried out at the end of the third control period and for FY15 to FY17.
