A two-day National Workshop on Power
Sector Reforms and Regulations in India was held at Pune on 22-23
March 2007. More than 30 representatives from civil societies and
consumer organisations from 10 States participated in the Workshop
and shared their experience. Mr. K.K. Bajaj, Hon. Director (Representations),
Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), attended the Workshop
and made a presentation on ‘Power Sector Reforms and the Scenario
in Gujarat’.
During the concluding session, all participants agreed
to a resolution highlighting a few urgent issues which are critical
for promotion of consumer interests and called for immediate action
by the Ministry of Power, State Governments and State Electricity
Regulatory Commissions.
The resolution broadly covered the following important
topics:-
i) Effects of recent judgments passed by the Appellate
Tribunal for electricity, restricting the powers of SERCs.
ii) Opposition to the recently proposed amendment to
the Electricity Act wherein the theft of electricity is to be made
a non-bailable offence. This will lead to misuse of Section - 135
of the Act and harassment to consumers.
iii) The selection of Chairman and members of SERCs
should be more transparent with independent mechanism and without
interference from State Governments.
iv) SERCs should implement stringent monitoring of norms
laid down in the Standards of Performance and Electricity Supply Code
Regulations with reliable and timely reporting by licensees. Third-party
monitoring is suggested due to non-availability of man-power and infrastructure
with SERCs.
v) Increase participation of consumer groups and civil
society groups before all proceedings of SERCs and necessary analytical
and financial resources should be made available to these groups through
a creditable mechanism.
vi) Pricing of fuel is very essential to control electricity
charges for end-users or consumers. An effective regulatory mechanism
should be incorporated to determine rational prices of fuels through
a transparent public process.
The resolution was jointly signed by all participants
and submitted to the Ministry of Power, Forum of Regulators Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission and State Electricity Regulatory
Commissions.
Pritee Shah
Senior Director - CERC
Editor INSIGHT — The Consumer Magazine
Date : 24/04/2007
Place : Ahmedabad
Consumer
Education & Research Centre (CERC) - Copyrights Reserved 2003.