The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) committee is apprehensive that Tata Power may encroach upon its territory by supplying power to the island city. Members of the committee have asked the management to look out for consumers trying to make the shift to Tata Power.
Committee member Kedar Hombalkar has asked the management to look into if Tata Power is supplying electricity to consumers within the Mumbai city limits.
“We have to see to it that we do not lose any consumers to Tata Power as we have already lost our commuters due to two consecutive hikes this year,” said Mr Hombalkar.
According to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), the BEST is the only body to have legal rights to distribute power in the island city even though the undertaking does not generate its own power but purchases it from Tata.
BEST general manager Jagdish Patil said that according to the law, Tata Power cannot enter into the city as a distributor. “We are protected under the law and no other competitor can enter the market as distributor.
Although Tata Power has asked MERC for permission, we have written to the Appellate Tribunal For Electricity (APTEL) and the Supreme Court, saying that this should not be allowed,” said Mr Patil.
The BEST’s two power plant projects at Satara and Ahmednagar have been in the works for a long time and the latter is closer to completion.
Mr Hombalkar has asked the management to look into the possibility that consumers might try to get connections illegally.
