Inflated electricity bills

Why in news?

A fact-finding committee reported that farmers had received inflated power bills in 2014-15.

What is the Status of Indian farmers?

• Majority of Indian farmers are doing marginal and subsistence agriculture.
• The farmers meet high amount of operational costs.
• Operational costs include fertilizers, seeds, wages, expenses for tilling, ploughing, irrigation etc.
• Electricity is one of the important operational costs for the farmers.
• But in few instances the farmers face inflated electricity bill which creates distress among them.

What is the report about?

• In 2015, the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) had appointed a three-member committee.
• It looked into allegations that farmers had received inflated electricity bills in 2014-15.
• Apart from officials, energy activists are also a part of the committee.
• The committee commissioned a field study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B),
• Based on which it was to submit a report and suggest methods to improve the functioning of MSEDCL by December 2015.

What are issues with the report?

• Recently the report was submitted to the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB),
• The report didn’t had the signature of the three-member committee’s chairperson.
• The director of MSEB, claimed to have no knowledge of the submission of the report.
• There was difference of opinion arose when the committee discuss the findings before presenting it to the MSEB.

How such issues can be addressed?

• Electricity bills need to be revised by the committee.
• The reports need to collected on losses and the board need to refund the excess amount to the farmers.
• Many of the states had given waiver of electricity bill to the agrarian community, such models can also be followed.

Source: Indian Express