Union Power Ministry has come out with a set of performance measures and in case power distribution companies fail to meet them, consumers will be at an advantage. The ministry has released a draft version of Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and seeks stakeholders’ comments on the proposal by the end of this month.
So, in this regard, state electricity regulators will need to provide an updated standards of performance for discoms and in case of failure to comply with them the associated compensation needs to be also provided for.
And the areas which will require discoms to compensate can be unsatisfactory supply duration, frequency of power cuts, time taken by discoms to provide new connections and replace defective meters.
“It is the right of the consumer to have minimum standards of service for supply of electricity from the distribution licensee as per the rules laid down,” the draft of the rules said.
For the modification of the existing connection or for the new connection request, the maximum serviceable time should not be more than 7 days. For other municipal areas the time allotted is 15 days and for rural consumers, it will have to be done within 30 days. Also, the provision to make all such requirements should be made online with even the tracking facility for the same.
Also, late receipt of bills by more than 60 days will also make the customer eligible for an up to 5% rebate.
