MERC TO ASSESS POWER USAGE OF AGRI SECTOR

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Electricity Regulator Commission (MERC) is planning to carry out an independent assessment into the sale of power to agricultural users. The study will ascertain the agricultural consumption of electricity in Maharashtra.

A study conducted by a thirdparty would weed out discrepancies and be a transparent study, MERC officials said. Farmers get electricity for their agricultural pumps at a subsidised cost.

According to MERC officials, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) had conducted a study for Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) but has not submitted the study yet. Mukesh Khullar, member of MERC, said that there were discrepancies in the data submitted by MSEDCL.

“To ensure accurate assessment of agricultural electricity sales, we have decided to set up a committee that will undertake third-party verification. We felt that there is a need to commission a study directly under the aegis of the MERC,” Khullar said.

Khullar said that the survey will be carried out in all the agricultural seasons and a report will be submitted by 2020.

“It will take a year to complete the assessment as the regulator will have to consider the sale of electricity in different agricultural seasons as the energy requirements may differ. We hope that the study will be completed by March 2020,” Khullar added.

Khullar, who was speaking at an event in Mumbai, added that such an independent study will define the scope accurately.