Friday, May 25, 2007

Received your NEW electricity bills yet ?

For those of you in Mumbai, this is about the time we get our new MERC-approved first MYT-Tariff Bills.

The biggest impact will be felt by the BEST consumers, whose bills will almost DOUBLE !! .. and they didn't even turn up for the Public Hearing ...

REL's small industrial consumers will be pleased that the Fixed Demand Charge is now only above 20kW (26.5 HP) as against the earlier 11.25KW (15 HP).

Also, the Billing Demand will be calculated on 65% of Max Demand hit (as opposed to 100% earlier).

And the rate for Fixed Charge has come down to Rs. 300 per kVA, from Rs. 374 per kVA.

All in all, small industries will get approx 45% LOWER bills (on account of the Fixed Demand itself) and many may actually "escape"the clutches of Fixed Demand by the increase in threshold.

Some reason here to smile !

Residential users, make sure you have only a SINGLE-phase connection. If you have a three-phase connection, get it converted to single-phase. Check your electricity bill, by seeing what is the FIXED charge that you are paying, you will be able to figure out whether you are single-phase or three-phase (Rs. 100 Fixed charge generally means you are in three-phase, unless your consumption is unduly high).

However, the rates have gone up for all suppliers and now the Max rate for units in excess of 500 has crossed Rs. 7 .. so watch your consumption, guys !

The other issue that we fought for .. a parity on the Prompt Payment Discount and Delayed Payment Charges, has also been finally rectified by MERC. Now the discount and penalty will be calculated on the same elements (excluding only duuties and taxes, which is fair) .. so consumers can now avail of prompt payment discount even on the Fixed Charges and Power factor penalty/incentive also :)

Will post a detailed comparison of all suppliers' rates later.

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