Experts differ with CM on 26% Maha power tariff dip
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Nagpur: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said power tariffs in the state will be slashed by 26% in five years, starting with 10% dip in the initial year. The new tariffs will be applicable from July.
He also lauded Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) order on a review petition by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) regarding multi-year tariffs.
However, power experts disagree with the CM and claim that the MERC order will raise tariffs, not reduce them.
MSEDCL had filed a multi-year tariff petition before MERC in March for years 2025-26 to 2029-30. The MERC, after reviewing the petition and conducting public consultation, passed the order approving truing up of past years' annual revenue requirement, which was termed 'historic' by power experts as it reduced power tariffs for all consumers, including residential, commercial, and industrial.
The MSEDCL then filed a review petition, after which MERC stayed its own order and has now issued a fresh diktat.
"We are thankful to MERC for issuing this order on MSEDCL's petition," said Fadnavis in a social media post. In the past, Fadnavis added, it was common to see petitions proposing a 10% hike in electricity tariffs. But this time, for the first time ever, MSEDCL filed a petition to reduce tariffs, and MERC has responded with this historic order.
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The benefits will extend to all three consumer categories — domestic, industrial, and commercial, said Fadnavis.
The CM also said 70% of electricity users in the state consume less than 100 units a month, and they will experience the highest rate cut of 10%. "Work on the Chief Minister Solar Agricultural Feeder Scheme 2.0 is progressing at a war footing to ensure our farmers receive reliable daytime power supply. In addition, upcoming power purchase agreements will focus heavily on green energy, leading to substantial savings in power procurement costs.
These very savings enabled MSEDCL to propose the rate cut," said Fadnavis.
Speaking to TOI, former independent director of MSEB and power expert, RB Goenka, said the MERC has done a U-turn. "The first MERC order was historic as it reduced power tariffs. However, these new tariffs would increase the bills for consumers. The new time-of-day (ToD) introduced in the new order would make rooftop solar completely unviable for consumers over 10KV capacity.
It will hit commercial and industrial consumers the most," said Goenka.
Another expert Mahendra Jichkar claimed the tariffs for residential and commercial consumers will go up. "Calculations show bills of consumers will definitely go up and will impact the common citizens," he said.
MSEDCL, however, said among the key features of the order are a 10% additional time-of-day concession for domestic consumers using smart meters during daytime hours, and incentives for households generating solar power.
Goenka, who had filed an intervention over the MSEDCL's review petition, said MERC did not conduct any public hearing before issuing the order. "The MERC did not even provide the intervenors with the copy of MSEDCL's review plea and did not even consider our objection. This order should be challenged," he said.
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