In what may come as a relief to electricity consumers in the island city, the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (ATE) has cleared the way for them to
receive power from the Tata Power Company (TPC).
In its order dated April 4, the ATE has upheld the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) order issued on February 22, 2010, which was
challenged by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST).
The MERC order had directed TPC to supply power to consumers in the BEST area, by laying its own distribution network in order to discharge its
obligations under the Electricity Act 2003, which deals with the supply of electricity to all consumers.
BEST distributes power in Mumbai’s island city, and its licence area extends from South Mumbai to Sion in the east and Mahim in the west.
The ATE has ruled that MERC has jurisdiction to issue directions to TPC relating to its obligation to supply electricity under the Electricity Act.
MERC has directed TPC to set up its own distribution network to supply electricity to consumers in South Mumbai who wish to make the switch from BEST
to TPC, it added.
