Power situation in Maharashtra improves

MUMBAI: The power situation in Maharashtra has improved considerably over the last few days and Mahavitaran, the state power distribution company, has in a review petition with state regulator MERC has asked for permission to defer the proposal for second staggering day for industries.

As per the earlier proposal, industries in the state would have had to shut down their units for two days in a week instead of the existing one day. There was a lot of opposition to the proposal.

As luck would have it, pre-monsoon rains in many areas in the state have resulted in lower demand for power from agriculturalists.

According to Mahavitaran sources, the demand-supply gap in the state has gone down below 4500 MW from over 6000 MW. The Mahavitaran petition to Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), however, has said in case the demand for power increases, it be allowed to buy costly power and recover the extra cost from the consumers.

MERC officials said they have received the petition from Mahavitaran but could not say as to when will it come up for hearing.