Maharashtra eases power payment norms for industrial consumers

To provide relief to commercial and industrial power consumers in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, the electricity regulator of Maharashtra has asked the state’s power distribution companies to put a moratorium on payment of fixed charges to its large consumers for the next three billing cycles starting March 25.

While acknowledging that discoms will have to borrow additional working capital to make up for the shortfall stemming from the lower cashflow due to the moratorium, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has asked them to provide relief to power consumers from the burden of the incremental working capital interest.