MSEB, which has yet to pay Rs 148 crore towards of power purchase bill of November payable in December to DPC, is likely to commence the purchase of 180 mw from 6 am on Saturday.

Top MSEB sources told The Financial Express that it was a conscious decision not to purchase power from DPC in a serious bid to restrict the bill at around Rs 150 crore to Rs 160 crore per month. MSEB would continue to implement "as and when require" policy as far as DPC's power purchase is concerned following the `precarious' financial conditions.

"During the last few days the loads/demands in western region grid has come down considerably due to climatic conditions. This has further resulted in increase of central sector power quantum for Maharashtra. It is ultimately resulted in operation of western grid at higher frequencies most of the times. As such the decision was taken for total shut down of DPC generation," MSEB said in a communication to the DPC.

MSEB sources said that it was able to maintain power supply with the online capacity of 11,200 mw. Thanks to the ongoing winter season, timely load shedding and a dip in the peak demand shortage at around 300 mw to 400 mw.

MSEB had stopped the power purchase on December 31, January 1, 2, 3 ,4 and again on 6, 7 and 8 following the high frequency and adequate power availability. It had purchased around 180 mw on January 5 from DPC. MSEB, which has a contractual agreement with the DPC, had resumed the power purchase from January 9.