Charge lower rates in rural areas: MP power ombudsman

The MP Electricity Ombudsman has dismissed the redressal forum’s order and directed a power distribution firm to recover dues from rural consumers at the rates applied to rural areas and not the urban areas, according to an order issued in August.

The Madhya Pradesh Electricity Ombudsman has dismissed the redressal forum’s order and directed a power distribution firm to recover dues from rural consumers at the rates applied to rural areas and not the urban areas, according to an order issued in August.

In 2006, the MP Electricity Regulatory Commission had fixed separate charges for rural and urban consumers. (Photo for representation)

Ombudsman MK Gupta issued this directive in response to a petition moved by Jai Mahakal Oil Mills situated in Sirlay village (Khargone district) and Sunil Oil Mills located in Semaliya village (Barwani district) in June this year.

The firms claimed that MP West Zone Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (west discom) was recovering urban tariff from them though their industrial units were situated in villages.

The two industrial units had lost the case in the Electricity Consumers’ Grievance Redressal Forum (Indore and Ujjain divisions) against whose order they had appealed before the MP electricity ombudsman.

The average electricity charges in the rural areas vary from 80 paise to Re 1 per unit. They are Rs 6.30 per unit in the urban areas.

In 2006, the state government had notified rural areas and the MP Electricity Regulatory Commission which decides power tariff, had fixed separate charges for rural and urban consumers in 2006-07. The rates are revised every year.

The urban and rural electricity consumers include domestic, agricultural and industrial users.