MSEDCL asks regulator to do rethink on power cuts

State-owned power utility Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd's (MSEDCL) Managing Director A B Pandey has written to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) asking it to review its earlier order on the two-day power cut in the industrial park.

In a letter to the power regulator last week, he said, "An additional day of power cut in the industrial park will affect revenues of the MSEDCL severely. As industries not only contribute a substantial chunk to the MSEDCL's revenues but also take care of the subsides to weaker sections like farmers and consumers living below the poverty line."

Last month, while rejecting the MSEDCL's plea to increase the load shedding hours in residential areas power regulator asked them to implement its earlier order to introducing two days of power cuts in industrial area.

After the MSEDCL shot off a sarcastic letter asking MERC to clarify if this power cut should be implemented for those industries also who have met the target given by the power regulator to reduce their consumption.

The MERC had directed the non-continuous process industries to reduce their consumption by 20 per cent and continuous process industries by 10 per cent as per its order in February.

In the letter, Pandey said, "If the commission permits them, the MSEDCL will buy costly power and supply it to industry and recover them from industry by way of reliability charges and for this purpose they will maintain separate account."

However, introducing the second day of power cut in the industrial park will have a effect on investment climate in the state, results in a loss of jobs and labour unrest, and cause a dent on the state's image, Pandey pointed out.