MERC clarifies 7 implementation issues in MSEDCL's FY21-25 MYT tariff order (Case 322/2019) without altering approved tariffs

MSEDCL sought clarifications on ambiguities in MERC's MYT Order dated 30 March 2020 (effective 1 April 2020, FY21-25 Control Period) covering: urban division tariff differentiation, feeder-based AG metering/billing, kVAh billing mechanics for rooftop/multipartite/sub-metered consumers, bulk consumption rebate, incremental consumption rebate, and wheeling charges where requisite voltage isn't available. Typographical errors were already fixed via a 23 April 2020 Corrigendum, so only substantive clarifications remained. Given COVID-19 lockdown, Commission decided the matter on written submissions without a hearing.

• Additional Fixed Charge of Rs 10/connection/month for LT-Domestic applies only to consumers in sub-divisions serving part of a Municipal Corporation area (not all 'Urban Division' consumers), irrespective of whether located within/outside municipal limits
• For 502 sample AG feeders, technical loss of 18% approved for feeder input-based billing (metered and unmetered consumers both billed via feeder consumption index) until feeder-wise actual losses are computed
• kVAh billing: energy balancing/OA transactions remain in kWh, converted to kVAh only for levying charges using monthly billing Power Factor; rooftop HT netting done in kWh with balance converted to kVAh; multipartite/sub-metered LT portions billed in kWh, residual HT units converted to kVAh
• Bulk Consumption Rebate (2%/1.5%/1% reverse telescopic slabs) extended to partial Open Access consumers, but only to the extent of consumption from MSEDCL
• Incremental Consumption Rebate: baseline to exclude Temporary Disconnection zero-consumption periods; Permanently Disconnected-to-live treated as new connection (no past baseline carried); rebate computed on kWh basis (not kVAh) till MTR Order; Rs 4/kVAh floor computed after including Energy/TOD/Wheeling/FAC/Bulk rebate/Load Factor Incentive/Prompt Payment Discount but excluding Demand Charge, Demand Penalty, Electricity Duty and Taxes
• Wheeling charge concession (billing per actual voltage level, not requisite EHV/HT level) requires consumer to maintain requisite-voltage billing demand for at least 75% of bills actually raised in the financial year (not strictly 9 calendar months)

• • HT-Industrial C&I consumers (partial Open Access included) remain eligible for Bulk Consumption Rebate (1-2%) and Incremental Consumption Rebate strictly to the extent of MSEDCL-sourced units, encouraging continued grid procurement alongside OA
• • kVAh billing for HT consumers stays in force from 1 April 2020; OA/wheeling/energy/CSS/additional surcharge charges must be computed by converting kWh to kVAh using monthly billing Power Factor, affecting effective landed cost for OA and rooftop HT consumers
• • Rooftop solar HT consumers get clarity that net-metering settlement is done in kWh with only the residual balance converted to kVAh for billing, reducing ambiguity in bill computation
• • C&I consumers in areas without requisite EHV/HT voltage must maintain billing demand at the requisite voltage level for at least 75% of bills raised in the FY to retain lower wheeling charge benefit, requiring load/demand planning discipline