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Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS), Ahmedabad, has
protested before the Ministry of Power (MoP) for having succumbed
under pressure from electricity companies and come out with an amendment
to the Electricity Act, known as "The Electricity (Amendment)
Act - 2007, applicable from 15 June 2007. The Electricity Act- 2003,
applicable in India from 10 June 2003, was consumer-friendly and
made electricity companies accountable, gradually turning towards
utility due to frequent amendments brought by the Ministry.
The following important points are covered under this new amendment
:
1.The provision of reduction and elimination of cross subsidies
within specified time limit as decided by State Electricity Regulatory
Commissions (SERCs) have been modified and the word elimination
has been omitted. i.e. Cross subsidies will be reduced but not eliminated.
2. Section 126 of Electricity Act covers unauthorised use of electricity
where the assessment was for three months and six months for residential/agricultural
consumers and other category of consumers respectively has been
revised to actual period or maximum twelve months for all category
of consumers.
3. The assessment under Section 126 has been increased to twice
from one and half times.
4.If consumer wants to file an appeal before Appellate Authorities
now has to deposit 50% of assessed amount instead of earlier 33
% amount.
5. The scope of Section 135, i.e. theft of electricity has been
further widened covering
i) Use of electricity through a tempered meter
ii) Use of electricity for the purpose other than for which it is
authorized.
i.e malpractice or unauthorized use of electricity is also covered
under theft of electricity to help utilities.
All above amendments are introduced at the behest of electricity
companies to raise more money from power consumers in India. It
is very important to add that consumer-friendly regulations are
not being implemented by electricity companies and State Electricity
Regulatory Commissions.
The Ministry of Power is silently observing these violations without
taking any action against SERCs and DISCOMS.
All SERCs have notified regulations on Supply Code and Standard
of Performance which makes all Electricity Companies accountable
and punishable under the Act. MOP should find out how much and how
many times penalties have been imposed by SERCs. Can MOP provide
the details of amount collected by SERCs as penalty and amount paid
to consumers as compensation in violation of various regulations
since enforcement of Electricity Act?That the Rules and Regulations
under the Act are not implemented is well-known to the Ministry
and SERCs but both are helpless before monopolies.
Date : 26/06/2007
Pritee Shah
Place: Ahmedabad
Editor
Insight-The
Consumer Magazine
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