The Government has proposed to enact legislation that will grant customers the right to obtain 24X7 power supply in their homes and provide them with reimbursement for any deviation from the specified objective.
The new tariff policy, finalized by the Ministry of Power, a consumer charter has been implemented that specifically specifies the role and responsibility of power distribution companies (Discoms) and sets out consumer rights. The new tariff policy with the added market charter was put for Cabinet approval by the Ministers.
When accepted, the subordinate legislation will be put in Parliament before it becomes operational taking the output of providing 24X7 power to customers under its ambit state Discoms.
The new charter would define power supply interruptions because of shedding of the load. Consumers will be paid by the discoms for any load shedding that is unplanned or extends past a cut period.
The fee will be in the form of a refund that would be deposited with discoms into the consumer’s account, so that this refund will be used when paying the next bill.
A source in the Power Ministry said, “The policy would model electricity generation and supply in the country and give citizens the right to seek uninterrupted power supplies or get compensated.”
The Government is undertaking two big power sector reforms. Another that goes through the tariff mechanism and the other comes from a new Electricity Act. These regulations are aimed at establishing a dynamic power market in which manufacturers, retailers, and consumers will be benefited.
“In most regions, power is in surplus over the current demand. This provides an ideal ground for providing 24X7 power households. If the regulation does not go into litigation and all states are on board over it, it would be a major reform that would change the way electricity is supplied in the country,” said a power sector analyst at the condition of anonymity.
