Mahadiscom not extending discount derided

The Maharashtra state electricity distribution company (Mahadiscom) is alleged to have suppressed information on the 1 per cent concession to domestic and industrial power consumers if they pay the bill within seven days, despite specific order by the electricity regulatory commission.

Due to the suppression while power consumers have suffered loss of Rs 15 crore, the industrial consumers have suffered loss of Rs 70 crore.

This was disclosed by Pratap Hogade chief of the state power consumers' organisation. He has pointed out that the commission has ordered that since May 1, domestic consumers should be given 1 per cent 'prompt payment discount' if they pay the bill within seven days from the date of receiving the bills.

In view of the specific order, the Mahadiscom should mention the concession and record the amount to be paid within seven days. But, the Mahadiscom has not taken care of mentioning about the concession and the respective amount in the bills thereby depriving consumers to get the concession by paying their bills within seven days.

The commission has offered a 'load factor incentive' which is 0.75 for every extra load factor beyond 75 per cent. The concession or rebate varies from 0.75 per cent to 15 per cent according to the power usage by industrial consumers.

But as this provision is not duly calculated and recorded in the respective bills, the industrial consumers are deprived of the rebate, thereby suffering the approximate loss of Rs 70 crore, which are illegally recovered by the Mahadiscom, says Hogade.