Consumer empowerment in Power sector

New Delhi, Dec 21 : Ministry of Power has introduced new rules laying down the rights of consumers, a first initiative towards consumer empowerment in the power sector.
Issuing the rules Minister of State for Power R.K. Singh said that these shall empower the consumers of electricity. These rules emanate from the conviction that the power systems exist to serve the consumers and the consumers have rights to get the services and reliable, quality electricity, he said.
Distribution Companies across the country are monopolies — whether government or private — and the consumer has no alternative. The new rules empower consumers through a system of laid down rules and a system for enforcement of these rights.
Under the new rules covered under Electricity (Rights of consumers) Rules, 2020, codes have been specified establishing rights of consumers and Obligations of Distribution licensees. It had also defined ways for Release of new connection and modification in existing connection, 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.
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 rules have also specified 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. It also had provisions for advance payment of bills by consumers.