Shri Devendra Fadnavis
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Dear Sir,
Sub: Loot in the name of electricity charges in Mumbai by Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Power
I along with millions in Maharashtra had voted for the BJP in the assembly elections having high hopes that the new government will not only stop all corrupt practices and give substantial relief to all citizens of the state in the highly unreasonable high taxation that they are subject to by the state government as well as BMC but nothing has changed and the corruption as well as collection of toll which was promised to be removed continues unabated and we are all left wondering as to what we have gained by voting against the Congress NCP and for BJP because everything continues to be the same and while the leaders have changed, we are all left totally helpless and at the mercy of those who are out to exploit us.
As far as electricity charges are concerned, the amounts charged in Mumbai are the highest in the country and the regulator MERC is not protecting the interest since many years of the consumers but is allowing Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Power to charge heavy amounts for which various heads have been provided to them to bifurcate the charges which are reproduced here below:
1. Fixed charge
2. Wheeling charges
3. Regulatory asset charge
4. Energy charge
5. Fuel adjustment charge (FAC)
6. Government electricity duty
7. Maharashtra govt. tax on sale of electricity
One fails to understand why a government which claims to subsidize electricity users is charging Government electricity duty and Maharashtra govt. tax on sale of electricity and it is very imperative that the state government should waive all taxes and duties immediately to provide much needed relief to the consumer besides which allowing the electricity companies various avenues of charging like Fixed charge, Wheeling charges, Regulatory asset charge, Energy charge, Fuel adjustment charge (FAC) to charge huge amounts from consumers and it is nothing but plain robbery where charges for consumers of more than 500 units are concerned.
It is about time that your government which has been elected with high hopes that you will not allow such blatant and open looting of consumers to be allowed, will kindly look into the matter urgently and will get the electricity charges reduced substantially while totally ignoring and rejecting the illegal, unwarranted demands of Reliance Infrastructure and Tata Power to increase the power tariffs most substantially which I am afraid the so called MERC will allow after a sham hearing and your government which was committed to clean and good governance will not only not allow any increase but will on the other hand order substantial reduction in the tariff at present in addition to which CAG audit should be ordered to expose the mismanagement of these companies because the consumer cannot be made to pay the extra price of buying electricity which these companies have to pay for not entering into power purchase agreements and while they buy electricity at low rates, they are exploiting and looting the consumers.
I demand that necessary action be initiated immediately as the credibility of your government is at stake.
Th
