Power crisis on course for Mumbai

MUMBAI: Don't leave th-at air-conditioner on, if you don't need it. In a clear sign of the deepening power crisis, the Maharashtra Electricity
Regulatory Commission (MERC) has decided to issue a public notice urging consumers in Mumbai to cut power consumption by 20% to avoid power cuts during summer.

For once, MERC members are unanimous that the precarious supply situation calls for serious power conservation. The commission may even propose a penalty, such as token disconnection for a day, besides imposing a steep rate for anything more than 80% of normal consumption from industrial, commercial, and residential users if there is no drop in consumption.

On Friday, state energy minister Dilip Walse-Patil called a meeting to tell power companies in Mumbai and the state to come up with conservation plans within a week.

At present, bulk producers Tata Power and Reliance Energy barely manage to generate 2,250 MW against the city's demand of 2,500 MW. Tata Power is drawing roughly 300 MW from the state grid (controlled by MSEB) to meet the gap.