Maharashtra Energy Regulatory Commission (MERC) has stayed the implementation of new tariff w.e.f from April 1 for a period of one month. The unprecedented development comes against backdrop of objection raised by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to tariff order passed by Commission on March 28, 2025. The Discom has moved interlocutory petition claiming that said the new tariff order approved has errors and sought its review. MSEDCL said it will file detailed petition pointing the errors in calculation that led to reduction in tariff by 10 per cent for current year and rising upto 16 per cent by end of 5-year control period till 2029-30 in tariff petition no. 217 of 2024.

 

The company said the new tariff if implemented would cause grave prejudice and irreversible harm to many categories of consumers and various stakeholders, not limited to the distribution licensee. Therefore it sought immediate stay to new tariff order as it wants to ensure protection of consumers and stakeholders. The Discom further mentioned that by end of month of April, it will file a review petition. Accepting the contention, MERC stayed the order for new tariff and further mentioned that prevailing rates notified in March 2023 would continue to hold good. So the people in Maharashtra, excluding Mumbai Region, would continue to bear the brunt of high power tariff. The last tariff order saw unprecedented 37 per cent hike in electricity charges that saw rates of MSEDCL zooming to top most in the country. Till the review petition is decided, whose timeline is not yet known, perhaps even this summer may end up blowing hole in consumers pockets.