Bhubaneswar: In the open market, electricity is available at a low price of Rs 3 per unit. However, the state’s small, medium and medium-sized enterprises (MHSMEs) are not able to buy the electricity due to restrictions on the existing rules. Buying electricity at inflated prices like Rs 4 per unit is costing them a lot and they are failing to stay ahead of the competition in the market. To address this the SMSMSE industry has requested the state government and the Odisha Electricity Regulatory Authority (OERC) to allow the purchase of affordable electricity available in the open market. A webinar was organized by the Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) in this regard.Experts argued that it would allow MSMEs, such as large industrial companies, to buy electricity from the open market. Industries that buy more than one megawatt of electricity are allowed to buy electricity from the open market. However, the SMSMSE, which uses electricity from 110 kilowatts to 1 MW, is not eligible. Both large and small industries are buying electricity at Rs 4 or more per unit. But large corporations have been more sympathetic to allowing open market buying and selling. There is a difference between small organizations. Experts have called for equal rights for both organizations.
