New Delhi: As the deadline for Maharashtra to buy electricity runs out on Wednesday, the one question on the minds of Mumbaikars is - will they have to sweat it out this summer as well?
The city is likely to get the answer by later in the day when top-ranking officials from both the Maharashtra State Electricity Board and Tata power meet to discuss the power crisis.
The city is facing a shortfall of about 200 mega watts and Tata power is negotiating with power companies from other states to buy additional power.
An announcement, offering some respite to Mumbaikars, is expected.
At the centre of the conflict is the power supplied by Tata Power, the bulk of which goes to BEST, which distributes it across Mumbai.
But Tata Power also supplies a smaller share to Reliance Energy.
A year ago, the BEST had sent Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission, the state regulator, a power agreement asking Tata Power for 800 MW in a 10-year deal.
But in this order, the MERC refused to give it a final go head and said that BEST can buy only 650 MW from Tata Power, the rest can be distributed to others.
This is an order, which the BEST now wants to challenge in court.
Meanhwile, CNBC-TV18 reports that Reliance Industries plans to set up two captive power plants of 1,000 MW capacity each in Raigad district of Maharashtra.
According to Newswire 18, Reliance Industries has also assured availability of natural gas for Maharashtra's 1,040 mega watt power plant at uran in Raigad district, from its KG basin block.
But Reliance has a non-compete agreement with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group which owns Reliance Energy and the agreement bars it from venturing into power generation.
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