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For now, power bill won't kill
Merc to appoint third-party agency to probe into rinfra tariff hike.......Shwetaa Rahul Mumbai: The stay on tariff hike imposed on 28 lakh suburban consumers will continue for the next eight months. As per the directives of the state government, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Merc) is in the process of appointing an agency to study the account books of Reliance Infrastructure (formerly known as Reliance Energy Limited) which supplies power to the suburbs.
It may be recalled that after the recent outcry over the steep hiked tariff by RInfra, the state government had intervened and had asked Merc to stay it. The government had also directed Merc to investigate whether RInfra had discharged its duties, as envisaged in the Electricity Act, in the most economical manner so as not to impose an avoidable burden on the consumers. The government had also asked Merc to take further action as considered necessary.
The government directive read, "In the circumstances referred to above, the government of Maharashtra is of the opinion that it should seek advise from Merc in order to protect the common consumer from being unreasonably burdened."
"We are in the process of appointing a third-party agency to undertake the investigation as we do not want to get involved with it ourselves. The appointment and the report is likely to be finalised within the next 8 to 9 months," said VP Raja, chairman of Merc.
State will have More power by 2011-'12
* Power-starved Maharashtra is likely to add 6,866 megawatt (MW) of fresh generation by 2011-12. Of this, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MSPGCL) is likely to add 1,640 MW, which includes a major share from the erstwhile Dabhol plant, now rechristened Ratnagiri Gas Power Private Limited (RGPPL). The state will get 3,636 MW from Central generation, whereas various private parties are likely to add another 1,590 MW. * "I am referring to projects which are in progress. These would be completed soon, thereby improving the power scenario in the state," said Subrat Ratho, energy secretary and managing director of MSPGCL.
* The state has also prepared a policy for generation of non-conventional energy, which entails financial assistance for evacuation arrangements, exemptions in electricity duty, investments towards roads to power stations and subsidies to corporates.
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