Thane, Navi Mumbai will have to pay more for zero power cuts

Residents of Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Thane and Navi Mumbai will be in for a shock

Residents of Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Thane and Navi Mumbai will be in for a shock. Chances are that from July, they'll be paying Rs 1.30 per unit as a reliability charge to ensure there are no power cuts. The only consolation is that this is the rate the rest of the city pays to enjoy 24-hour power supply.

Right now, residents of Thane, Mulund, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg pay 43 p extra per unit, while Navi Mumbai pays 35 p extra per unit as reliability charge. The spokesperson for Maharashtra State Electri-city Distribution Company Ltd said, "The reliability charge will increase for these areas. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission is holding a public hearing by May end."

Ashok Pendse, member of Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, which will represent the city in the hearing, said, "We are calculating the new reliability charge for these areas." In consultation with other experts, the body has come up with three options that will be present at the hearing.

To opt or not
Option 1: Enjoy 24-hour power supply by paying a reliability charge of Rs 1.30 extra per unit.
Option 2: Face minimal power cuts depending on the demand. For this, residents between Thane and Kanjurmarg will have to pay 80 paise and Navi Mumbai 71 paise more per unit.
Option 3: No extra reliability charge, but residents will undergo power cuts faced by rest of Maharashtra (except Mumbai) minimum 5 hours per day.

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