MSEB told to submit load shedding modalities

The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has directed the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) to submit its proposal regarding the principles adopted while load shedding.

MERC has also declined to permit the power utility to pass on the burden of its Rs 500 crore project to introduce single phasing for agriculturists.

The direction comes in the wake of a petition filed by the president of the Maharashtra Rajya Veej Grahak Sanghatana on December 1, 2004, that alleges a discrimination by the board against rural areas.

The petitioner also claimed that the proposed scheme of restricting supply to agricultural consumers in the state through single phasing as a short-term measure at a cost of more than Rs 500 crore would have to be borne by all consumers through their future tariffs.

The MERC in its order states: "Since the presumptions with regard to future demand growth, availability of power, reduction in transmission and distribution losses have changed, the commission finds that there is a supply-demand gap. However, in such a situation of shortage, the manner in which the available power should be distributed between various areas and consumers, and the principles on which load-shedding is undertaken should be fair, equitable and transparent. The commission has directed MSEB to submit its proposal regarding the principles to be adopted for implementing load-shedding."

The commission held that the MSEB's proposal to implement single phasing for agricultural consumers was not approved by it as it was costly and intended to restrict supply to certain consumers rather than generally increase the supply and quality of power.

"Moreover, the cost would have to be borne by all consumers through their future tariffs, and the benefits claimed for the scheme are not well-founded."

According to MSEB, the conversion to single phasing would release three-phase transformers, which could be used for replacing old transformers wherever necessary, resulting in savings on new purchases.

"Taking this into account, apart from the expenditure already incurred on a trial basis at a few locations, MSEB can implement the single phasing scheme only up to the extent of budgetary provision already made for replacement of transformers in the financial year 2005-06," the order directs.

In case the state government wishes to support the single phasing scheme as a matter of policy, it may provide additional funding so that the burden is not passed on to consumers through tariff.

The results of the scheme should be submitted for further study and analysis.

The commission has directed MSEB to submit the proposed demand side management (DSM) scheme and other programmes to it within a month.