Electricity

Union Ministry of Power promulgated Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020

21.12.2020

Central Government lays down Rights to the Electricity Consumers through “Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020”. The Rules would play a significant role in furthering the ease of doing business across country. While issuing the Rules, the Union Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy said that, Rules shall empower the consumers of electricity and further added that, 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.

In terms of Rules, 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. It is the right of consumer to have minimum standards of service for supply of electricity from the distribution licensee. The distribution licensee shall supply 24x7 power to all consumers. However, the Commission may specify lower hours of supply for some categories of consumers like agriculture. The distribution licensee shall put in place a mechanism, preferably with automated tools to the extent possible, for monitoring and restoring outages. While the consumers will maintain consumer status and have the same rights as the general consumer, they will also have right to set up Renewable Energy (RE) generation unit including roof top solar photovoltaic (PV) systems – either by himself or through a service provider.

The Commission shall notify the standards of performance for the distribution licensees. Compensation amount is to be paid to the consumers by the distribution licensees for violation of standards of performance. Distribution licensee shall establish a centralised 24x7 toll-free call centre. Licensees shall endeavour to provide all services through a common Customer Relation Manager (CRM) System to get a unified view. The distribution licensee shall provide online access to various services such as application submission, monitoring status of application, payment of bills, status of complaints raised ,etc., to consumers through its website, web portal, mobile app and its various designated offices area-wise. The Rules would benefit about 30 crores existing and prospective consumers in the country.

Tags : Rights Consumer Rules

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