Activist Vivek Velankar said consumers across categories are facing a 5%-10% increase in electricity tariffs following Merc’s June 25, 2025, reviewed order.Maharashtra Legislative Council member Satej Patil said the increased electricity charges sought by MSEDCL in its review petition would be detrimental to the state’s 3.5 crore consumers and would amount to pulling the rug from under their feet. Patil and fellow council member Arun Lad attended the meeting, which did not see participation by any MLA or MP.Meanwhile, Prayas Energy Group member Shantanu Dixit said MSEDCL was seeking to recover additional costs through the aggregate revenue requirement mechanism instead of the variable cost-based fuel adjustment charge model, which is intended to avoid tariff shocks to consumers. According to a written submission by the group, MSEDCL has claimed additional costs of approximately Rs11,751 crore.The Pune hearing held on Thursday was presided over by Merc chairperson Sanjay Kumar and members Anand Limaye and Surendra Biyani. MSEDCL has received 1,124 objections to its review petition and around 350 stakeholders were scheduled to present their views before the tribunal.This was the sixth such hearing in the state, following similar sessions in Amravati, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.Additionally, activists criticised Merc’s decision to restrict the use of rooftop solar power under the revised time-of-day mechanism. While consumers were earlier allowed to utilise banked solar energy for 17 hours a day, the revised system limits usage to eight hours.Treasurer of the Maharashtra Solar Manufacturers Association Chinmay Kulkarni said, “The lack of clarity on tariffs risks Maharashtra losing its position as a leading state in solar manufacturing, and investors might move to other states.”Representatives of several farmers organisations from Kolhapur said solar pumps were proving ineffective in drawing water beyond a certain depth. They urged the tribunal to implement solar pumps only in areas where they are viable.
