With the economy gripped by an unprecedented crisis posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) has determined new lowered rates in all categories. Electricity consumers across the state will now pay 1.5 per cent to 19 per cent less in the next five years. This will be especially crucial for industrial and commercial consumers which are expected to take a major hit in the impending recession.

The MERC issued orders for four distribution companies (discoms) — Brihanmumbai Electricity and Transport undertaking (BEST), Adani Power and Tata Power Company and Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) — on Monday. All the companies had asked for increasing tariffs in most of the consumer categories earlier.