Irked with delay in implementation of the Government’s order to pay ten times the compensation amount to consumers if they are falsely charged with power theft, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the Power Department on Tuesday to talk to the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and get it expedited.
Earlier, the Government had decided to pay consumers 10-times of the amount if they are falsely charged with power theft. The DERC was directed by the Power Department to implement the orders.
According to the notification which was issued by the Delhi Government, there are numerous consumer complaints whereby they are wrongly accused of power theft under Section 135 of the Electricity Act 2003.
“Similarly, such complaints have also been received by various MlAs across Delhi. In addition to this cases related to power theft have been dismissed by the Civil and Special Courts numerous times. However, the whole process of getting justice takes away a good amount of time and money of the consumers,” it said.
According to the notification, the DERC will depute senior officials to give requisite permissions required to carry out inspections of discoms wherever cases of power theft and misuse have been reported. Simultaneously, such cases will also have to be reported with the consumer grievance cell of the Delhi Government. Moreover, only post approvals from the Public Grievance Cell of the Delhi Government, the discoms can send the bill to the consumers for final assessment.