MUMBAI: Here comes a ray of hope for Mumbai's 39 lakh power consumers, upset at inflating bills every year, and a warning for warring distributors Reliance Infrastructure, Tata Power and BEST.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) is planning a foray into Mumbai's power distribution network by taking advantage of the open access system after 2012. The system allows all power-providing agencies in the state an open access to any consumer in any area of the state, said state energy energy Sunil Tatkare.

Currently, MSEDCL supplies power to approximately 1.5 crore consumers across the state, except Mumbai city limits. The city faces a shortfall of 3,500 MW.

The Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company, the MSEDCL's parent agency, is setting up several projects that will supply 11,000 MW of power and these are expected to get over in phases by 2012, 2014 and 2016. "By 2012, we will meet our basic power demand of over 19,000 MW. The surplus power will be diverted to Mumbai's market at a cheaper rate after that. We hope to usher in healthy competition to keep prices under control,'' Tatkare said.

The ongoing projects at Parali, Paras, Khaparkheda, Bhusawal and Chandrapur, which can supply 3,210 MW, will be ready by January 2012 and the Dondaicha and Latur projects (total capacity of 5,840 MW) are likely to be completed by 2014-'16. New units at Koradi, Paras and Bhusawal will provide 1,950 MW more power after replacing the old ones.

Central plants and those from the private sector have promised around 4,243 MW more to the state by 2012.