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After threatening to disconnect 500MW power supply to the RInfra’s consumers in suburban Mumbai, Tata Power is desperate to sell power at market rates in the power market; however, they are yet to be successful MSEDCL has rejected their offer to buy power at market rates and has taken a firm stand of buying power from them, if only offered at the regulated rates and not at market rates.

The mockery of the entire issue is that TPC, which is planning to disconnect power supply of suburban consumers, is trying to sell the same power to suburban consumers only, but at much higher rates of Rs.5.5 to Rs.7 per unit. Currently, the GoM has intervened resulting in TPC seen continuing power supply power to RInfra.

RInfra has raised its objection to the issue of selling Mumbai power outside and earning super normal profits at Mumbaikar’s cost, as this power is specifically generated and meant, only to cater Mumbai needs and Tata’s Trombay project, from where the power comes, has been built through the tariff contributions of Mumbaites.

The Mumbai Grahak Punchayat (MGP) has expressed its dissatisfaction over the issue and has demanded that the Mumbai power should remain with Mumbai only

Surprisingly, Tata Power, when it had objected upcoming of Saphale power project proposed by RInfra (the then BSES), said in the Mumbai HC as well as to the GoM that being a bulk licensee for Mumbai, its their prerogative to cater Mumbai’s power needs and hence nobody else should be allowed to bring and sell power in Mumbai from any other project other than their own.

However, now the Company has backed out from its own commitments and by pointing fingers towards the provisions in EA2003, now they are stating that they are allowed to sell power anywhere in the country.

In fact, the State Governments of Delhi, Orissa and Karnataka have issued strict directives to the generators in their respective states to keep their power supply in the respective states grids only to meet the states’ demand first and refrain themselves from selling it out.

The consumer forums are expressing surprise and overall dissatisfaction for no such action on the issue by the MERC and GoM uptil now.

The Tata’s balance sheet itself reveals that the Mumbai consumers have contributed a sum of around Rs.533 Crores for upcoming of its Trombay power station. When contacted, Advocate Shirish Deshpande of Mumbai Grahak Punchayat said, “Selling power outside Mumbai and/or offering the same to Mumbai, but at higher market rates is definitely incorrect and agonizing, especially when Mumbai itself is under shortages of power. Why the GoM is still silent, when other States are acting in the interest of their respective consumers? – 35634

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