Many people are unhappy with their inflated electricity bills, but at a Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC)-held public hearing yesterday, there was a surprise consumer airing its grievances the Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL). MMOPL runs the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro rail corridor.

The company officials pleaded for lower electricity tariffs and a separate tariff structure, as they are an ‘essential service’. MERC asked MMOPL representative Debashish Mohanty to prove that they are an essential service. The MERC bench, headed by Chairperson Chandra Iyengar, asked the transport body to legally verify whether they fall under the essential services category.