Pune: In preparation for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, the Maharashtra Electricity Consumers' Organization has published an "Expectation Charter" outlining key demands on behalf of the state’s 3.25 crore electricity consumers.
The charter urges political parties to take a clear stance on various issues affecting consumers, including high electricity rates and service concerns.
Maharashtra’s electricity rates are currently the highest in the country, which, according to the organization, is negatively impacting both consumers and industrial growth.
Pratap Hogade, president of the Maharashtra Electricity Consumers' Organization, unveiled the charter with the aim of informing political candidates and parties of the pressing concerns of electricity consumers.
The charter addresses issues faced by over 2.80 crore Mahavitaran customers across various categories, along with approximately 45 lakh consumers in Mumbai who are served by Adani, BEST, and Tata.
The organization is seeking concrete commitments from political parties to resolve these issues.
Among the demands listed in the charter are free electricity for agricultural pump users, policies to settle outstanding dues for agricultural connections, and the provision of uninterrupted daytime electricity for farmers.
The charter also calls for the creation of a separate tariff category for consumers using between 101 and 200 units of electricity per month, with fair pricing, and demands an increase in the electricity usage limit for small businesses from 200 to 300 units in the first phase.
Additionally, it calls for uniform electricity rates for industrial and power loom users.
The organization has called on all political parties to make their positions on these matters clear ahead of the elections, emphasizing the importance of addressing electricity consumers' needs for the betterment of both residents and the state’s industrial sector.
