Mumbai, 16 July (HS): The industrial power tariff will soon be the lowest in Maharashtra compared to the other states. The present rate of Rs 8.32 per unit will be reduced to Rs 7.38 in the next phase, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The industrial tariff in Tamil Nadu is Rs 9.04, in Gujarat Rs 8.98, and in Karnataka it is Rs 7.75, he added.

Fadnavis was replying

to the issue raised by Abhijit Wanjari in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

Fadnavis said the electricity will now be purchased on the ‘Merit Order

Dispatch’ system, under which power from private companies is purchased at a

cheaper rate. With the increasing use of solar energy, wind energy, and

battery storage, the rate of traditional energy have gone down. For the next

25 years, the power tariff will be stable due to new agreements, he added.

Following a petition

related to reducing commercial tariffs and the burden on domestic consumers, the

tariff at all levels has been reduced. About 70 percent of consumers use electricity

below 100 units, and will get the benefit of a 26 percent tariff concession, which

will also be reduced for other consumers using more than 100 units.

Changes in solar pump and booster pump

schemes will benefit the farmers. The expenditure under the Single Pole scheme

is only Rs 15,000, and the government has planned to provide 10 HP pumps to

farmers, if required. The complaints are sorted out through the solar unified portal,

Fadnavis said.

For control over the misuse of electricity,

smart meters are being installed. This will also help in planning for the

future. A separate proposal for solarization of the lift irrigation project is

ready, and will be used in the dark zones, Fadnavis said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar