This is in contrast to the SEB's claim that it has paid Rs 459 crore to TEC (at the rate of Rs 3.04 per unit) for the supply of 1,511 million units during April and August.

Independent inquiries with MSEB and TEC confirm that TEC's net sale to MSEB was only around 200 million units during the period. The power company sold 116 million units in April, 36 million units in May, less than one million units in both June and July and 38 million units in August.

MSEB had stopped purchase for TEC when Dabhol Power plant started generation in mid-May. The board, however, resumed the purchase in August as Dabhol Power Company's plant was partially shut during this period due to a technical snag.

Dabhol Power plant was again shut for a few days in September for maintenanceand consequently MSEB increased the offtake from TEC bying around 35 million units during this month. But since DPC's plant was back in full supply by the end of September, MSEB bought only around one million from TEC in October.

Thus, even till October TEC had supplied only 235 million units to MSEB against MSEB's claim of 1,511 million units. According to sources, MSEB still pays in a range of Rs 2 per unit to TEC.

The board pays a low tariff to TEC because the Tata company sells power to MSEB only when it has excess generation. Secondly, in the absence of any power purchase contract between MSEB and TEC, the former is not obliged to buy power from TEC.

TEC, which supplies power to bulk consumers including BSES and BEST, earlier used to buy power from MSEB to cater to its consumers' demand. TEC pays a standby fee to MSEB for supplying it the required electricity whenever TEC needs it.

However, since BSES-one of its main bulk consumers-started its own generation, TEC requirement for additional powerhas diminished. It needs MSEB's power only if any of its units is closed down for maintenance.

TEC may also need MSEB power if the BSES unit is down and it demands more power from the Tata outfit. Otherwise, in normal circumstances, TEC does not need to buy from MSEB. In fact, it has an excess of around 200 mw during peak hours and 400 mw during non-peak hours. It has, however, to continue paying standby charges to MSEB.

"TEC would be more than willing to sell entire excess capacity to MSEB, specially if MSEB pays Rs 3.27 per unit as it claims," a source said.TEC has urged MSEB to revised the charges it pays for the purchase of power. While the board wants a firm commitment for supply of power, the issue is still to be resolved.