DNA EXCLUSIVE: MERC to study power use in agriculture sector

Amidst raging debate over inaccuracies and over-estimation in electricity consumption by agriculture consumers, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) for the first time will carry out a comprehensive study of agriculture consumption in the state through a working group. Distribution Company (MahaVitaran) has around 41.54 lakh agriculture (AG) consumer connections (out which, metered is 26.50 lakh and un-metered is 15.04 lakh) with a connected load of 210.84 lakh horsepower (HP).

MERC has proposed a stratified random sampling approach for selecting the representative sample of feeders. The working group will soon rope in an independent agency to undertake a field survey of 500 AG feeders spread across the state. Electricity use on a representative sample of 500 feeders will be estimated. The sampling frame consists of 10,260 agricultural feeders in Maharashtra is expected to cover about 95 per cent agricultural consumers.

MERC in its public notice inviting suggestions from stakeholders on the proposed sampling methodology said the objective of the study is to estimate electricity used for agriculture in Maharashtra. As reasonably reliable feeder input data is available, it is proposed to use feeder as a basic unit of analysis. Based on the assessment of AG consumption norm, the working group proposes to devise the methodology for ascertaining the AG Sales for FY 2014-15 to FY 2017-18.

MahaVitaran officer pointed out that the AG consumption for a particular year depends on rainfall, the number of dry spells during monsoon, agriculture and horticulture production, productivity, land under cultivation, dam groundwater levels and groundwater table level. These factors should be considered in the proposed survey to understand the level of electricity usage during a year.

Energy expert Ashok Pendse hoped that the findings of the working group are in toto implemented by MERC, MahaVitaran and the state government so that correct estimation will give a reduction in electricity tariff to the consumers.

Data collected through survey and feeder meter data along with other parameters would be analyzed to arrive at feeder level agricultural consumption index. The results will then be extrapolated to estimate the total annual agricultural electricity consumption in Maharashtra along with other analysis and factors.

The Plan

• The group will rope in an independent agency to undertake a field survey of 500 AG feeders spread across the state. 
• Electricity use on a representative sample of 500 feeders will be estimated