Follow rulebook, PSPCL told
Gurpreet Singh Nibber
CHANDIGARH

ORDER PSERC asks power secy to implement `standards of performance' guidelines, issue directions to corporation

Responding to the refusal of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) to implement the “standards of performance” guidelines laid down by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), the regulatory body has sent a communication to the state power secretary, instructing that the guidelines be implemented and necessary directions be issued to the power corporation in this regard.
On December 2 last year, the PSERC had issued a notification specifying the norms for both the PSPCL and PSTCL (transmission corporation) to provide various services to its consumers within a set time frame, failing which the two corporations would be liable to give compensation to the consumers.

The PSERC had listed more than two dozen services, names of the officers concerned and also fixed penalty in case of default. The commission has fixed a sum of up to Rs 5,000

per day per consumer as compensation, to be recovered from the officers concerned.
Refusing to implement the guidelines for at least two years now, the PSPCL has written to the PSERC, “With the existing infrastructure and manpower, it is not possible for the PSPCL to follow the guidelines. As for implementation, the PSPCL needs to upgrade the entire system, which is not possible at this stage because the financial position of the PSPCL is not comfortable.” Rejecting the PSPCL plea, the PSERC wrote back to PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director KD Chaudhari, “The appellate tribunal for electricity has already written to the power corporation to compensate the consumers in the event of default.” “Defiance of the PSERC directions could invite legal action for the PSPCL under sections 142 and 146 of the electricity act,” the PSERC said in its communication to the PSPCL last month.

Chaudhari refused to comment.

As per the guidelines of “standards of performance”, compensation will be payable for defaults occurring on or after January 1, 2012. “As per the specified procedure, the PSPCL and PSTCL will register every complaint made by a consumer either telephonically, verbally, electronically or in writing regarding failure or interruption of power supply,” says the PSERC notification.
The guidelines say that the complaints regarding quality of power supply, defects in meter, meter boxes, metering system, service line, payment of bills and other services relating to power supply are to be submitted by the consumer in writing.

In case consumers do not get services in time, as specified in the notification, they may submit claim for compensation to the officer concerned in the dispute settlement committee (DSC). If they are not satisfied with the DSC decision, they can further pursue the claim with the Forum for Redressal of Grievances of Consumers and the Ombudsman for Electricity, says the notification.