NEW DELHI: Delhi’s power distribution companies will no longer be able to enhance the sanctioned load of consumers on the basis of three highest meter readings. Now they have to calculate it on the basis of average of four consecutive months.
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Friday amended the DERC Supply Code and Performance Standards Regulations in order to check arbitrary and suo-moto enhancement of sanctioned load by power discoms.
The discoms fix a sanctioned load to every household as per its average power consumption every month. They increase the load if the average usage is more than the sanctioned load, which is reflected in the monthly billing cycle.
The revision often leads to complaints. The issue was also raised by some AAP MLAs in the recently-concluded budget session of Delhi Assembly. The members alleged that the discoms revise sanctioned load arbitrarily.
“Therefore, in public interThe discoms will take the highest of average of maximum demand readings recorded as per billing cycle, covering any four consecutive calendar months in the previous financial year Average readings will be rounded off on the lower side For domestic consumers having sanctioned load up to est, the Delhi government issued policy direction to the DERC under section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2013 for amendment of the provisions pertaining to revision of sanctioned load based upon maximum demand readings for domestic consumers,” a government statement said.
The step will provide relief to the electricity consumers in Delhi and public grievances on this account will be eliminated, officials said.
“The discoms now will take the highest of average of maximum demand readings recorded according to the billing cycle, covering 5kW in the last billing cycle of previous financial year, if the computed load is less than the sanctioned load, the load will be reduced automatically Officials say the move will reduce complaints regarding ‘arbitrary’ change in sanctioned load by power distribution companies any four consecutive months in the previous financial year. Then such average will be rounded off on the lower side. Earlier, average of any three highest maximum demand readings was done. This was not consumer friendly,” a power department official said.
This is the second good for Delhiites regarding their power bills. The government in its budget, presented earlier this week, has announced to continue the 50% subsidy for people who consume up to 400 power units. The allocation for subsidy this year has also been increased to ` 1,600 crore from last year’s ` 1,427 crore.
with thanks : Hindustan Times : Dated 2nd April, 2016
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