The Centre has approved amendments to the “Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020” with a view to further empowering consumers.
The amendments mainly relate to:
- Simplification of rooftop solar installation procedures
- Facilitation of residential EV chargers
- Reduction in time for new electricity connections
- Empowering consumers in multistoried houses through various measures
Rooftop solar
Exemption has been given for the requirement of technical feasibility study, for systems up to a capacity of 10kW. For systems of capacity higher than 10kW, the timeline for completing the feasibility study has been reduced from twenty days to fifteen days. Further, in case the study is not completed within the stipulated time, the approval will be deemed to have been given.
Additionally, it has now been mandated that the distribution system strengthening necessary for rooftop solar PV systems up to 5kW capacity will be done by the distribution company at its own cost. Further, the timeline for the distribution licensee to commission Rooftop Solar PV systems has been reduced from thirty days to fifteen days.
EV charging stations
Consumers can now obtain separate electricity connections for charging their Electric Vehicles (EVs). This aligns with the country’s goal of reducing carbon emissions and reaching Net Zero by the year 2070.
New electricity connections
The time period for obtaining a new electricity connection under the Rules has been reduced from seven days to three days in metropolitan areas, from fifteen days to seven days in other municipal areas, and from thirty days to fifteen days in rural areas. However, in rural areas with hilly terrain, the time period for new connections or for modifications in existing connections will remain thirty days.
Additional rights for consumers
Owners residing in co-operative group housing societies, multi-storied buildings, residential colonies, etc., will now have the option to choose from the distribution licensee either individual connections for everyone or a single-point connection for the whole premises. The exercise of the option will be based on a transparent ballot to be conducted by the distribution company. Parity has also been brought in the tariff charged to consumers who get electricity supplied through single-point connection and to those who avail of individual connections.
Metering, billing, and collection will be done separately for:
- individual electricity consumption sourced from the distribution licensee
- individual consumption of backup power supplied by the residential association
- electricity consumption for common areas of such residential associations, which is sourced from the distribution licensee.
Mandatory additional meter
In cases where consumers raise complaints about meter reading not aligning with their actual electricity consumption, the distribution licensee is now required to install an additional meter within five days from the date of receipt of the complaint. This additional meter will be used to verify the consumption for a minimum period of three months, thus reassuring consumers and ensuring accuracy in billing.
Also read: Amendments To Electricity Act Can Reform Distribution Segment: ICRA
Featured photograph (source: Tata Power) is for representation only
