Inform consumers about leakages: DERC tells power bodies
TNN 20 December 2009

NEW DELHI: After instructing all power consumers to install earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) for connections with a load of 5KW and above, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has asked the city's discoms to ensure that consumers are informed about leakages and appropriate action is taken.

In a letter to the three discoms - BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna and NDPL, the regulator has stated that consumers whose premises have leakages have to be issued a notice. Mere verbal communication is not enough, the DERC letter stated.

Sources said the regulator had come across instances of earth leakages at consumer premises, but the occupants were neither informed in writin nor was any action taken for months on end.

The Indian Electricity Act makes it mandatory for a licensee to take appropriate action if and when there is a leak. Earth leakage not only poses a threat to life and property of the consumer, but adds to the consumer's monthly bill. The commission has, therefore, made it clear that all such instances must be dealt with in accordance with Rule 49 of the Electricity Rules, 1956, the sources said.

According to Regulation 36 and 37 of the DERC Supply Code and Performance Standards Regulations, 2007, the licensee has to inform consumers about leakages and advise them of ways to resolve the problem, the commission said.

DERC has now made it clear that mere mention in the monthly electricity bill that there is an earth leakage at the consumer's premises is not enough. The licensee has to issue a separate notice to the affected consumer. The commission said if it came across any instance of earth leakage and the discoms failed to issue a notice, it would amount to violation of its directions. In such a situation, action will be taken against them, the sources said.