New rules mandate discoms to provide 24X7 power supply
LUCKNOW: Apart from making various other provisions seeking to empower people, the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules notified by the Central government only recently make it binding on the distribution companies (discoms) to provide round the clock power to all consumers except categories like agriculture.
“The distribution licensee shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers. However, the Commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like agriculture,” say the rules notified on December 31 and put on the power ministry’s website on Tuesday.
They mandate the electricity regulatory commission to specify parameters to maintain reliability of power supply by discoms.
The new rules provide that no power connection shall be given without a meter and such meter shall be the smart prepayment meter or pre-payment meter.
“Any exception to the smart meter or prepayment meter shall have to be duly approved by the Commission. The Commission, while doing so, shall record proper justification for allowing the deviation from installation of the smart prepayment meter or prepayment meter,” rules say.
They further make it clear that if the meter is installed outside the consumer’s premises, distribution licensee shall be responsible for safe custody of the meter, and if the same is installed within the consumer’s premises, the consumer shall be responsible for the safe custody of meter.
Rules also simplify the procedure for taking a new power connection by asking discoms to develop a portal and a mobile app to get applications with applicants having the facility of tracking the status with the help of a unique registration number.
For new connections up to a load of 10 kW or such higher load as may be specified by the Commission, the application form shall be accompanied with only two mandatory documents- (1) identity proof (i.e. Passport, Aadhar Card etc.) of the applicant; and (2) proof of applicant’s ownership or occupancy over the premises for which new connection is being sought.
Under the fresh rules, consumer has the option to pay bills online or offline. But any bill amount of more than Rs 1000 or an amount specified by the commission will mandatorily be paid online. Commission will have to specify a suitable incentive or rebate for payment through online system.
For bill amounts less than or equal to Rs 1000 consumer may pay the bill through cash or cheque etc.
In case of post payment meters, when a domestic consumer gives prior information in writing about his continued absence from residence, the distribution licensee shall not send any notice or provisional bill to the consumer provided that the consumer pays the fixed charges for such period in advance and his supply line shall not be disconnected. “Interest shall be paid on advance amount paid under sub-rule (1), at such rate as may be decided by the commission.
The notification also has provisions with regard to disconnection and reconnection of power supply, reliability of supply, call centres for consumers, grievance redress mechanism, minimum service standards, compensation mechanism apart from some general rules.