NGO highlights need to reinterpret Electricity Act

The National Consumer Awareness Group (NCAG),an NGO working for consumer rights,on Saturday highlighted the urgent need to reinterpret the Electricity Act-2003,apprehending that it may be misused.

The standard performance in the Act notifies which works should be done by the department,in how many days and the penalty for not completing it on time. But the consumers are not aware of these and dont know when they are exploited, NCAG president P J S Mehta said,adding that the standards of performance should be displayed outside the field offices along with penalties imposed for delay in service.

Raj Pal Singla,Technical Advisor of NCAG,said: Reinterpretation of the Act is important. We have seen an increase in the number of cases being reported to us,which point towards the misuse of the Act in UT. We have raised our concerns with the administration as well the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.

Story continues below this ad

Saying that the clause pertaining to use of unauthorised use of electricity needs to be defined,Singla added: For a small increase in the connected load,if wrongly assessed,the penalty will be in lakhs. When a consumer is drawing electricity through a correct metre and willing to pay for the extra load,how can they be penalised under the clause meant for drawing electricity through unauthorised means?

A shopowner in Manimajra,who has filed a complaint with the UT consumer forum and is awaiting judgement,said: I was being forced to buy a private metre at a higher rate after the delay in issuance of power connection. Drawing extra load from my metre is not the same as theft,then why am I being penalised?

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram