In view of the crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, the government of Maharashtra has decided to reduce the power tariff for consumers in the state by an average of 7%. The reduction in the tariff would be 10-15 percent for industrial and commercial consumers, while it would be 5 percent for residential consumers, State Energy Minister Nitin Raut said on Wednesday.
Addressing the media via an online platform, Raut said that industrial and commercial consumers will not have to pay fixed fees for the next three months. There will be no increase in tariffs for agricultural consumers, and those using solar roof power will not have to pay any additional charges, he added.
Other measures
The power tariffs of Adani Electricity, Tata Power, BEST Undertaking and MSEDCL have already been reduced following interactions with the management of the companies. The charge for support of the solar energy grid has been reduced to zero, which will make it possible to support the solar energy sector. The government is also trying to increase the subsidy cap for Marathwada and Vidarbha for the growth of industries in the state and for the rest of Maharashtra, Raut said.
The decision to reduce power tariffs by coordinating with the power companies and the State Electricity Regulatory Commission will go a long way towards boosting the state's industry and business, the Energy Minister added.
Companies that fall within the scope of essential services will be billed according to their use. Meter readings for households will not be carried out. The electricity bill will be generated from the previous month's average bill. The March bill will have to be paid by 15 May and the April bill by 31 May, he said.
Uninterrupted power
Companies should also take precautions to maintain the supply of electricity in their areas. They will have to prepare a contingency, keeping in mind the month of Ramzan, the higher power requirement in the summer and the coming monsoon. It was also decided to honor the best-performing employees who made a significant contribution to the uninterrupted power supply during this period, Raut said.
The Minister reiterated that the process of meter reading, distribution of electricity bills, operation of electricity bill payment centers and campaigns to detect power theft have been halted in order to avoid direct contact with customers.
