Ministry of Power
Union Government for the first time lays down Rights to the Electricity Consumers through’Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020′
Beginning of an era of empowering Power Consumers in a paradigm shift bringing Consumers to Centre Stage : Shri R K Singh
Consumers to have the option to apply for new electricity connection and pay bills online
Consumers to get electricity connection in prescribed timeline which is 7 days in Metro cities, 15 days in other cities and 30 days in rural areas; Violations to result in penalties
Rules to benefit about 30 crores existing and prospective consumers in the country
These rules are important step towards furthering the ease of doing business across country: Power Minister Shri R.K.Singh
Posted On: 21 DEC 2020 3:48PM by PIB Delhi
Union Ministry of Power has promulgated rules laying down the rights of power consumers in the country. While issuing these rules here today via Press Conference, Shri R.K.Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, 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 that 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”, Shri Singh said.
The minister further said, “These rules are also an important step towards furthering the ease of doing business across the country. Implementation of these Rules shall ensure that new electricity connections, refunds and other services are given in a time bound manner. Wilful disregard to consumer rights will result in levying penalties on service providers.” He said that this is one of the major initiatives and yet another step by the Union Government to put consumer in the centre-stage of public utility services. The Rules will benefit about 30 crores existing and the prospective consumers in the country. Stressing upon the need for awareness of all consumers especially in rural areas/villages, he said, States and DISCOMs are being advised to provide wide publicity to these highly consumer friendly Rules of the Government.
1. Following key areas are covered in the Electricity (Rights of consumers) Rules:
a) Rights of consumers and Obligations of Distribution licensees
b) Release of new connection and modification in existing connection
c) Metering arrangement
d) Billing and Payment
e) Disconnection and Reconnection
f) Reliability of supply
g) Consumer as Prosumer
h) Standards of Performance of licensee
i) Compensation Mechanism
j) Call Centre for Consumer Services
k) Grievance redressal mechanism
2. Rights and Obligations.-
3. Release of new connection and modification in existing connection.-
4. Metering –
5. Billing and payment –
6. Disconnection and reconnection provisions
7. Reliability of supply
8. Consumer as prosumer
9. Standards of performance.
10. Compensation mechanism
i. No supply to a consumer beyond a particular duration, to be specified by the Commission;
ii. Number of interruptions in supply beyond the limits as specified by the Commission;
iii. Time taken for connection, disconnection, reconnection, shifting;
iv. Time taken for change in consumer category, load;
v. Time taken for change in consumer details;
vi. Time taken for replacement of defective meters;
vii. Time period within which bills are to be served;
viii. Time period of resolving voltage related complaints; and
ix. Bill related complaints.
11. Call Centre for Consumer Services
12. Grievance redressal mechanism.-
13. General Provisions.-
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