‘Franchisees to plug power deficit’

Permit open access to consumers who need power in excess of one MW and allow new franchisees to generate and distribute power at different levels of feeders in Mumbai.

These were some of the measures put forth by Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), Chairman Pramod Deo while addressing a seminar on Power Crisis in Maharashtra and the Issue of Power Tariffs, organised by Indian Merchants’ Chamber on Thursday.

Talking about the franchisee scheme, he said, “Franchisees which can generate and distribute power at different levels must be appointed. They could enter in a 10-year contract with the respective power utilities and procure electricity at a tariff sanctioned by the MERC. The franchisee would have to promise zero load shedding.”

Deo added, “The MSEB has distribution losses of 80 per cent while the collection efficiency is only 30 per cent. On the other hand, in Pune the distribution losses stand at 15 per cent and collection efficiency is as high as 99 per cent.”

Deo said in spite of the supply increasing to rise to 11,634 MW in 2007-08 and to 12,853 MW in 2008-09 and 14,053 in 2009-10, the state will still need about 4,000 MW in the next three years.

Deo hoped that efforts to put back on stream various units aggregating 2,000 MW of Ratnagiri Gas and Power Co at Dabhol by next year would succeed, and help in reducing the impact of the power shortage.

Commenting on the predicted shortfall and the expected average load shedding to be implemented in the state, Deo said, “The prediction has gone as far as 20.5 hours per day. Instead an announcement for load shedding for 24 hours must be made, to reduce confusion amongst consumers.”