DERC seeks public suggestions on penalising discoms for outages

 Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has invited suggestions and objections from the public on the AAP government’s decision to penalise power discoms for unscheduled power cuts.

The power regulatory body said it has included the increased penalty provision in its Delhi Electricity Supply Code and Performance Standards (Second Amendment) Regulations of 2015.

“DERC has invited suggestions and objections from the people of Delhi within 10 days and thereafter, the regulator will notify the penalty system,” said a senior official.

Power distribution companies in the national Capital will have to pay <g data-gr-id="23">penalty</g> to consumers if unscheduled power cut in their area was for more than one hour.

The amount of fine would be adjusted in each customer’s monthly bills. Delhi government has asked the DERC to put in place a system immediately to ensure payment of <g data-gr-id="25">penalty</g> to the consumers.

Announcing the decision, Delhi’s Power Minister Satyender Jain on Wednesday said penalty of Rs 50 per hour per consumer will be levied for the first two hours followed by Rs 100 for every subsequent hour.

With DERC making the penalty provision part of its draft regulations, the <g data-gr-id="22">discoms</g> will have to abide by them.

“The licensee (power discoms) will register every complaint of a consumer regarding failure of power supply, quality of power supply, meters, bills etc., at the centralised complaint centre or complaint centres, and will intimate the complaint number to the consumer,” the draft policy says.