BOMBAY, 4 March 2006 — The western metropolis of Bombay, till now safe from the series of power cuts that have dogged other cities in Maharashtra state, is now faced with the prospect of power cuts if citizens fail to curb consumption.
The Maharashtra State Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC) has asked Bombay citizens and businesses to reduce power use or face cuts. MERC says that if Bombay does not reduce power use by 20 percent — the “mandatory load regulation” target — the commission would act, enforcing cuts including temporary disconnection. Power utilities in Bombay — Tata Power Company (TPC), Reliance Energy Ltd. (REL) and Brihan Mumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BSES) — will have to implement the MERC order, which was issued after a series of public hearings.
The MERC has also directed the licensees to prepare a load-shedding plan for Bombay, the final resort if other measures fail. Bombay power needs create a supply gap of around 250 to 275 MW during peak hours in April and May. MERC has directed all users consuming more than 300 units per month and all industrial consumers in the licensed areas of TPC, REL, and BSES, to reduce monthly consumption to 80 percent of their consumption in corresponding month in the past year.
The TPC, REL, and BSES have been asked to ensure that electricity is not supplied to neon signs, illuminated hoardings, advertisements and kiosks, lighting for outdoor functions, temporary connections for such lighting purposes, floodlighting for sports stadiums and buildings between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.
