The Shiv Sena leader Vinod Ghosalkar, who has served this legal notice has criticised BSES for high rates and interrupted power supply in Mumbai suburbs. He has complained that in view of "exhorbitant" rates, the consumers residing in the Mumbai suburbs had to shell out more money per month compared to those of Mumbai south where BEST (BrihanMumbai Electric Supply and Transport) supplies power.

"That since last 10 years you have been charging suburban consumers at an exorbitant, illegal and unjust rates thereby exploiting them and causing unlawful loss to them. These are unlawful gains to you, which is nothing short of cheating," Mr Ghosalkar said. He added that these charges were on a higher side even at all-India basis.

Mr Ghosalkar said while BSES charges Rs 1.38 per unit for first 100 units, BEST's pet unit tariff is mere 75 paise. In case of above 100 units, BSES charges Rs 1.40 while BEST did not charge fuel adjustment charges upto 150 units. "For nearly 150 units, Mumbai suburban consumers have to pay nearly Rs 350 to BSES while in case of BEST it is only Rs 137," he commented.

Referring to the installation of FGD unit at Dahanu, Mr Ghosalkar wanted to know whether BSES would pass the additional expenditure on Mumbai suburban consumers. "If yes, then the FGD plant is not cost effective and consumer friendly," he added. Mr Ghosalkar had advised BSES not to go in for setting up of 495 mw of combined cycle power plant at Saphale, Thane district in view of a large scale opposition from the local residents.

Mr Ghosalkar while taking a strong objection on the introduction of new and lunatic electric meters alleged that it leads to increase in the monthly bills to consumers. "These meters run like Rajdhani Express thereby churning out electricity bills of Rs 5,000 and above," he added. Mr Ghosalkar has called upon the BSES to reduce the rates and bring it on par with BSES. He has also demanded that BSES to give the reimbursement to consumers from whom since last 10 years, it had charged and recovered exorbitant and excessive charges.

Meanwhile, BSES sources have told The Financial Express that it would soon reply to Mr Ghosalkar's notice. Simultaneously, BSES chairman and managing director RV Shahi would make a presentation to give the real picture to Mr Ghosalkar and his partymembers in addition to various parties who have taken objection to BSES tariff.

Mr Shahi is likely to make such a presentation on Tuesday to a delegation representing the opposition BJP which had also voiced severe concern over the high tariff. The BJP unit general secretary Jaiprakash Thakur, who is a close confidant of the Union petroleum minister Ram Naik, had already threatened to stage dharnas at various BSES offices in Mumbai surbubs against high tariff.