The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had announced that there would no more load shedding as long as Tata Power Company (TPC) was able to maintain supply. But the MSEDCL made it impossible for TPC by instructing the company not to buy power from the energy exchange, even though it is available as cheap as Rs 4.50 per unit.

Vivek Velankar of Sajag Grahak Manch, who went to the power regulatory commission along with other representatives of other consumer organisations, alleged that TPC was willing to buy power from the national exchange, but MSEDCL imposed restrictions. It allowed TPC to buy on a weekly basis, but not on the day ahead of the withdrawal of load shedding. Dixit wondered why the MSEDCL has imposed the restriction after committing itself to zero load shedding.

Several areas of the city saw power cuts of four to six hours. Angry readers called The Indian Express from Khadki, Pimpri, NIBM, Kondhwa, Warje, Wakad and other areas, demanding to know why they were facing power cuts when it had been announced that there would be zero load shedding.

Among the callers was Shehaz A Setna of Bund Garden Road. “This morning, the Bund Garden area where I live suffered two hours of load shedding from 7.30 am and again since 2.30 pm. It is past 4.30 pm, the power has still not been restored. On enquiring at the local electricity office, I was told that it was not due to a breakdown but because of load shedding. This time, it happened without any notice warning, and did not match the usual time of the previous power cuts in our area, which began at 8.45 am,” Sena said.