Mumbai’s island city may not face power tariff hike till March 2018

Also, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) power tariff may witness slight drop in the next fiscal year

The 10.5 lakh power consumers in the island city may not have to face power tariff hike till March 2018. Also, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) power tariff may witness slight drop in the next fiscal year. BEST distributes power to consumers in island city

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport power tariff may witness slight drop in the next fiscal year (HT Pic for Representation)

According to BEST’s multi-year tariff plan approved by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), the power tariff in 101-300 unit slab will reduce from the existing Rs5.87 per unit to Rs5.44 in the financial year 2017-18 for residential users. Total 6.42 lakh users of the BEST fall in the 101-300 units slab and around 1 lakh residential users fall in the slab above 300 units that is considered to be high end residential users. While for commercial users it will dip to Rs8.34 from existing Rs9.02.

Recently, the BEST power bill witnessed a significant drop of nearly 30% due to the recent tariff revision and decision to stop transport division loss recovery (TDLR). So far, the BEST used to collect TDLR from power consumers in the island city to cross –subsidize the losses in transport division. The issue is now pending before the Supreme Court. The BEST will not be able to charge TDLR till the apex court decides on the matter.

When contacted, a BEST official from electric supply wing said, “Our power tariff is highly competitive after this revision. It is less than other power supplying companies in the city and it is likely to be so till March 2020 unless there is increase in power generation cost or sudden shortage of power which is a rare scenario.”