In an unprecedented move, the state power regulator has stayed its own tariff order that allowed Reliance Infrastructure (RelInfra), earlier known as Reliance Energy, to hike the electricity charges by 7% for residential consumers from July.
The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), which was asked by the state government to review the power tariff structure of RelInfra after strong protests from political parties last month, has now asked the company to charge the customers as per the 2008-09 tariff.
MERC, in a statement put on its website said, "Considering the special circumstances and the direction to the commission to undertake detailed investigation on metering, power purchase expenses and transactions undertaken by Reliance Infra as also its capital expenditure, the tariff increase as approved by the commission is stayed.