Discoms to pay for long power cuts?
Proposal placed before L-G for approval
Delhiites may be compensated for power outages if lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal approves the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s proposal to revive an aborted clause in the Delhi Electricity Act which requires the power distribution companies to pay compensation to consumers for power cuts exceeding two hours.
“The court had shot it down earlier, saying that it doesn’t have approval of the L-G. I am meeting him tomorrow and will talk to him about bringing it in practice,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said.
Delhi on Monday saw its highest ever demand for power at 6,361 MW. With the capacity of producing 8,000 MW, the national capital has no shortage of power, Mr Sisodia said. Delhi is second only to Mumbai in terms of sustained supply of electricity, he added.
With the increase in power outages this summer, Delhi government on Tuesday told discoms to raise the number of call center attendants and inform denizens about unscheduled power cuts via SMS.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed chief secretary M.M. Kutty to immediately place the compensation proposal before the L-G. “The file of compensation to be paid to every consumer by discoms for power cuts of more than two hours to be placed before the LG today itself for approval,” he said in his written direction to the chief secretary.
Last year, Mr Kejriwal’s government had implemented its decision to penalise power distribution companies for unscheduled power outgages. But it was later struck down by the Delhi high court as the L-G’s prior approval had not been sought.
As per the compensation policy on power cuts outages that was struck down by the high court, a penalty of `50 per hour per consumer was to be levied for the first two hours followed by `100 for every subsequent hour.
The fine amount would be adjusted in the consumers’ monthly bills. The policy stated that if any consumer approached the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) after 90 days with a complaint that he or she had not received his compensation, DERC would have to order and ensure payment to all consumers affected by that power cut.
Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia told reporters that power distribution companies have been instructed to take steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply.