Mumbai: Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune, which have been enjoying 24-hour power supply for the past few days, have once again started facing a 2.5-hour power cut every day.

This is because the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) on August 19 told Tata Power Company Ltd (TPC) to provide only firm power (supply that will continue, as an agreement exists between the buyer and seller) to these areas. They stopped the supply of 'day ahead power' (electricity purchased a day before from the open market at fluctuating rates). TPC had been supplying 450 Mw - 100 Mw in firm power and 350 Mw in 'day ahead power'.

An official from TPC said, "MSECL has asked us to supply only firm power to these areas in the coming months. Nothing more than that is available until October."

An MSEDCL official said, "If the electricity supply is not stable and TPC continues to supply a major chunk of electricity on day-to-day basis, then it might create problems."

Meanwhile, residents of Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune will have to continue paying an additional 0.43 paise
every month to receive "24-hour electricity".