The Energy Forum of the Vidarbha Industries Association (VIA) on Monday conducted a meeting at VIA Auditorium as well as virtually to discussed various issues of the power consumers. R B Goenka, Vice President – VIA;

VIA President Vishal Agrawal; Chairman of VIA Energy Forum Prashant Mohota, and Ashish Chandarana elaborated on various energy related issues and legal matters, which will be soon taken up with different authorities including Government of Maharashtra and MERC.

Considering the new GR of Government of Maharashtra with respect to Vidarbha-Marathwada power subsidy which has reduced the subsidy almost 50 per cent as compared to the subsidy offered at the time of previous Fadnavis-led Government, the VIA has recently submitted a representation to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding withdrawal of current GR and implement the repealed GR. Goenka told the participating members that Fadnavis has promised to take positive actions on the matter.

Recently the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has issued new regulation with respect to security deposit of the consumers and asked them to make payment of security deposit (SD) equivalent to two months of energy charges. Previously it was equivalent to one month energy charge.

“A petition has been filed with MERC to remove the difficulties faced by big consumers and causing heavy financial burden on them. It is requested in the petition to implement the previous regulations,” said Goenka.

The meeting also saw detailed discussion on prepaid meter option to avoid the heavy burden of security deposit. The industrialists gave suggestions to improve load factor and requested MERC to implement previous regulation, which was applicable during the Covid phase in which the change in contract demand was applied within three working days.

In addition, recently a petition has been filed in the MERC with regard to solar and green power open access policy.