MSEB in efficiency rewards plan

Efforts to lower T&D losses, improve collections

The Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) has submitted a load shedding proposal to the state electricity regulator that seeks to reward regions in the state exhibiting efficient bill collections and lower transmission and distribution (T&D) losses with lower durations of power cuts.

In contrast to regions such as half of Pune city, Vashi in New Mumbai, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg that will benefit under the proposal with lower durations of power cuts, regions in Marathwada such as Aurangabad where bill collections are tardy and high T&D losses are reported, the power cuts (read load shedding) of higher durations will become the norm.

Confirming this, the MSEB chairman Jayant Kawle said, "We are seeking to peg the range of loadshedding on the basis of the aggregate technical and commercial losses suffered by the MSEB in different regions. We have submitted our proposal to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) today."

MERC member Pramod Deo when contacted said that the commission would hold public hearings inviting public objections to the MSEB load shedding proposal begining with one in Thane on May 26, 2005, followed by Nashik, Aurangabad and covering all the remaining divisions of the MSEB.

"The MSEB had been directed by the commission earlier to submit principles and protocols of load shedding. We sought to know whether the shortage of power was being distributed across the state of Maharashtra in an equitable and fair manner. It is quite clear that the emergent situation of shortage of power will continue for a couple of years at least in Maharashtra," Deo said.