Mumbai: The Maharashtra electricity board has come up with new rates of power. These rates will be applicable from September 1. For the year 2018-19, the rates of BEST power will be reduced by six to eight per cent in south Mumbai while rates of Adani Electricity and Tata Power will be increased by 0 to 1 per cent for north Mumbai.

While addressing a press conference at its Colaba office, MERC chairman Anand Kulkarni informed mediapersons that MERC would be forming a committee to bring in discipline in the consumption of electricity in the agricultural sector.

Kulkarni informed that the people of south Mumbai would have to pay less on power bills and that it would be to the tune of 6 to 8 per cent less than their  existing bills. For south Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking is a licensee for electricity distribution to the island city area of Mumbai.

Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company’s power tariff of agriculture pumps is increased by 20 paise per unit. Earlier it was Rs 3.35 and now it is changed to Rs 3.55 per unit.

Also, the cost of power used for homes has also been hiked from Rs 5.07 per unit to Rs 5.31 per unit for usage of first 100 units. From 101 to 300 units, it has increased from Rs 8.74 to Rs 8.95 per unit. Rates of power for industrial purpose have also increased.

In Tata Power, the earlier rate was Rs 9.12 per unit and now it will be Rs 9.38. For Adani electricity, earlier it was Rs 10.07 and now it has been decreased to Rs 9.37. BEST power tariff for this segment was earlier Rs 8.65 and now it is reduced to Rs 8.06.

State distribution company’s rates were earlier Rs 8.04 and have now been changed to Rs 8.20.

Further it has been decided to give subsidy to promote electronic vehicles. The charging station for electric vehicles will be `6 per unit and demand charge will be `70 per KVA/month.