Maharashtra big-bang poll promises on cheaper power come at a cost

Consumers in Delhi enjoy free electricity up to 200 units a month. This move has led to a significant number getting zero monthly bills

During the recent Maharashtra assembly election campaign, two of the main parties, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), mentioned the cost of electricity in their manifestoes. The former promised a 30 per cent discount for consumption up to 300 units. The NCP’s promise included keeping industrial electricity rates at par with other states and waiver of electricity bills to farmers, on the lines of measures taken in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

There is speculation now on what could happen on this front. A legal procedure has to be also noted. "The state electricity regulator decides on aggregate