Office of the Chief Engineer (Commercial) Maharashtra State Electricity Board “Prakashgad”, Bandra (East), Mumbai -400051. Tel.:(P) 26474753 (O) 26474211 Fax: (022) 26472366

REF.: PR – 3 / AG / 32175                                                       DATE: 06/10/2003

GENERAL CIRCULAR (COMMERCIAL) NO. 382

Subject:            Reconnection of agricultural consumers ---- Instructions thereof.

Ref.:                 Departmental Circular (Commercial) No. 682 dated 19/09/2003

            Attention is invited to the Departmental Circular (Commercial) referred herein above. As stated therein, the concerned billing unit in-charge has been authorized to reconnect the power supply of an agricultural consumer against payment of minimum 20% of the gross arrears as on 31/03/2003. All the field officers must be aware that the State Government has extended general subsidy in tariff to agricultural consumers for the year 2002 – 03 & the proposal of the State Government has also been approved by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission. Accordingly, instructions to pass on the subsidy in tariff have already been issued vide Departmental Circular (Commercial) 686 dated 03/10/2003 and it is expected that the credit of general subsidy in tariff will be passed on to the eligible consumers in the next ensuing energy bill. In the mean time, if any agricultural consumer approaches for reconnection of power supply, then the general subsidy in tariff likely to be passed on to the consumer should be estimated on the basis of details given in the Table here below and reconnection of power supply should be allowed against payment of 20% of the gross arrears payable by such agricultural consumer as on 31/03/2003 less estimated amount of the general subsidy in tariff payable to the respective eligible agricultural consumer.

            Similarly, for the year 2002 – 03, the State Government has also extended an additional subsidy at the rate of 33.33% of the prevailing tariff to small & marginal agricultural consumers billed as per Flat Rate Tariff (having connected load up to & including 5 HP) situated in drought affected villages. The Hon’ble Commission has approved the said proposal of the State Government and instructions to pass on the said additional subsidy are being issued shortly. However, quantum of such additional subsidy, wherever applicable, should also be taken into account for determining the balance arrears payable by an agricultural consumer as on 31/03/2003, who so ever approaches for reconnection of power supply against payment of 20% of the arrears.

            A Table indicating prevailing tariff during the year 2002 – 03, subsidy in tariff & effective rate payable by an agricultural consumer is given here below for ready reference. It shall however be noted that the instruction contained in the Departmental Circular (Commercial) under reference as well as in this Circular are applicable to Low Tension agricultural consumers only.

            The tariff indicated in Column no. 3 above is inclusive of T & D Loss Charge, which is not applicable to all the consumers. As such, in case of such consumers who are not liable to pay the T & D Loss Charge, the subsidy payable by the Government will proportionately increase.

CHIEF ENGINEER (COMMERCIAL)