Pune: Most of you must have got an inflated power bill in June, but wait, don't just blame the power utility companies for these bills. The reason behind the inflated bills is that the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has 'deflated' your wallet by approving rate hike even more than what the power companies had suggested. Moreover, based on the new rates applicable from April, MSEDCL has 'quietly' issued three months of power bills to its consumers.
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had proposed a hike in electricity charges of 25 paise per unit but the MERC approved 41 paise for the slab of 0 to 100 units.
MSEDCL had proposed to increase 35 paise but MERC has approved 48 paise per unit for the slab of 101 to 300 units. The MERC has also hiked the wheeling charge by 17 paise per unit but has brought fuel adjustment charges to zero. The MERC had announced earlier that the electricity charges for domestic consumption will be reduced by 5 to 7 per cent and for industrial consumption will be reduced by 10 to 12 per cent.
Now since the MERC approved this rate hike from April 1, the MSEDCL has charged its consumers according to the new rates. Majority of the consumers in the state consume electricity between 100 to 300 units and they have suffered the most due to this rate hike.
Due to lockdown and inability to take actual meter readings in April and May month, the consumers had received power bills on an average consumption basis and did not realise the effect of a rate hike.
Shantanu Dixit, Coordinator, Energy Group, Prayas said, "When we calculate the power bill, we should consider the Fuel Adjustment Charges. If we consider that factor then the rate hike approved by MERC is less, but we exclude it then the hike in charges approved by MERC is higher than what was recommended by MSEDCL. The MERC should consider the Fuel Adjustment Charges for the entire year instead of just April month and accordingly approve rate hike."
Electricity Charge
For 0 to 100 units
Up to March 31 - Rs 3.05 per unit
After April 1 - Rs 3.46 per unit
For 101 to 300 units
Up to March 31 - Rs 6.95 per unit
After April 1 - Rs 7.43 per unit
Fixed charge
Up to March 31 - Rs 320
From April 1 - Rs 350
Wheeling Charges
Up to March 31 - Rs 1.28 per unit
From April 1 - Rs 1.45 per unit
