New Delhi (NVI): For the first time, the Central Government today promulgated rules, laying down the rights of power consumers in the country, saying that the new rules will ensure the rights of electricity consumers.
While issuing the rules, Union Power Minister RK Singh said, “These rules shall empower the consumers of electricity and added that these rules emanate from the conviction that the power systems exist to serve the consumers and the consumers have rights to get the reliable services and quality electricity.”
He said the Distribution Companies across the country are monopolies – whether government or private and the consumer has no alternative – therefore it was necessary that the consumers’ rights be laid down in Rules and a system for enforcement of these rights be put in place. “This is what the rules provide for,” Singh was quoted as saying in the statement.
The minister further said, “These rules are also an important step towards furthering the ease of business across the nation. Implementation of these rules shall ensure that new electricity connections, refunds and other services are given in a time-bound manner.”
“This one of the major initiatives and yet another step by the government to put consumer in the centre-stage of public utility services,” he added.
The rules will benefit about 30 crores existing and prospective consumers in the country, stressing upon the need for awareness of all consumers especially in rural areas, Singh said, adding that, “States and DISCOMs are being advised to provide wide publicity to these highly consumer-friendly rules of the government.”
Under the new rules in the Electricity (Rights of consumers) Rules, 2020, key areas covered are rights of consumers and obligations of distribution licensees, the release of new connection and modification in existing connection, the Ministry of Power said in a statement.
Also, metering arrangement, billing and payment, Disconnection and Reconnection, Reliability of supply, Consumer as Prosumer, Standards of Performance of licensee, Compensation Mechanism, Call Centre for Consumer Services, Grievance redressal mechanism, it added.
The new rules also established that it is the duty of every distribution licensee to supply electricity on request made by an owner or occupier of any premises in line with the provisions of Act and it is the right of consumer to have minimum standards of service for supply of electricity from the distribution licensee, the ministry said.
Under the rules, consumers to have the option to apply for new electricity connection and pay bills online. The maximum time period of 7 days in metro cities and 15 days in other municipal areas and 30 days in rural areas identified to provide new connection and modify an existing connection.
Furthermore, the statement stated that, the distribution licensee shall supply 24×7 power to all consumers. However, the commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like agriculture, as per the rules.
The new rules has also given power to consumers to set up Renewable Energy (RE) generation unit including roof top solar photovoltaic (PV) systems — either by himself or through a service provider, the ministry said.
“It also provides for compensation amount to be paid to the consumers by the distribution licensees for violation of standards of performance,” it added.
-RJV/ARK
