You can change your power supplier next week

Next week onwards, residents of Mumbai’s suburbs can switch their electricity supplier from Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) to Tata Power, without either companies creating problems, reports HT Correspondent.

Next week onwards, residents of Mumbai’s suburbs can switch their electricity supplier from Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) to Tata Power, without either companies creating problems.

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To address issues that might crop up during the switchover, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) will draft an interim order by October 8, clarifying these issues.

Tata Power, RInfra and consumers activists tabled some of the problems before MERC on Wednesday.

“We will try to reduce the asymmetry of information available to consumers and try to make this entire process as transparent as possible,” said V P Raja, Chairman, MERC.

Both firms have sought clarity on process of the changeover. The issues under consideration were concerning meter reading on existing meters, installation of new meters, billing process and collection of tariffs, once Tata Power and RInfra share the distribution network.

“We have spent more than Rs 350 crore in replacing old meters over the years. So it will be advisable if our meters aren’t discarded once the changeover takes place,” said Advocate J J Bhatt representing RInfra.

Tata Power proposed that as an interim arrangement it will place its own meters, while both the companies can jointly read existing meters of consumers to maintain transparency.

Wagle, who represented Tata Power said, “Reliance Infra will continue to be the wheeling licensee (basically lay the infrastructure like wires and cables) and we would be the supplier to consumers who opt for our services.”

Yet there was some disagreement between RInfra and Tata Power on minute points and they have asked MERC to clear it in the interim order.