‘Mahadiscom’s inefficiency led to power tariff hike’
Blaming inefficiency and corruption for the proposed power tariff hike by Maharashtra State Power Distribution Company (Mahadiscom), a consumer body has opposed burden of Rs 39,051 crore the consumers will have to bear in next four years after the hike. The Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana has threatened to protest against the proposed ‘illegal’ 24 per cent hike which has been decided upon to cover Mahadiscom’s revenue deficit.
As per the Mahadiscom’s proposal, the consumers will have to face electricity hike of 5.5 per cent for the year 1916-17, 11.30 per cent hike for the year 1917-18, 17.43 per cent hike for 1918-19 and 23.88 per cent hike for 1919-20.
The hike has been proposed considering the state’s annual revenue for the year 2014-15 was Rs 55,324 crore. If the electricity is supplied with the same tariff, the Mahadiscom will have to face revenue deficit of Rs 38,978 crore in the next four years.
However, Pratap Hogade from Maharashtra Veej Grahak Sanghatana has blamed the inefficient functioning of the Mahadiscom for the deficit. “The proposal of the Mahadiscom does not talk about measures to be taken to reduce deficit. Many of plants of the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (Mahagenco) have capacity of only 50 to 60 per cent generation. Inefficiency and corruption have also increased cost of the electricity. The power is available for Rs 3.50 per unit in open market while power purchased from Mahagenco in 2014-15 was Rs 4.24 per unit. The excess charge forced on the consumers was illegal,” Mr Hogade said.
The activist also alleged that the Mahadiscom has shown increase in use of power by farmers to hide power distribution losses. “The MERC in 2006-07 had fixed the losses of power during distribution at 35 per cent. The farmers’ participation was 18 per cent in using power then. Now in 2015-16, Mahadiscom has shown losses 14 per cent and use of power by the farmers is 30 per cent. The latest figures are misguiding and consumers end up paying 76 paise per unit extra,” he alleged.
Demanding that the proposed power tariff hike be withdrawn, Mr Hogade said or else the consumers and the activists in the field would protest. “The government should withdraw the proposal and in fact reduce industrial tariff, which is the highest among the neighbouring states,” he said.
