No upfront fees or site visits needed for new power connections: DERC

Amid growing complaints over electricity connections, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has stated that no upfront payments or prior site visits by discom officials are required when applying for new connections.

The DERC is mandated to regulate and supervise the electricity utilities of Delhi and their operations, including the supply of electricity by power distribution companies (discoms) of Delhi, namely TPDDL, BRPL, BYPL and NDMC.

In a public notice issued on Wednesday, the Commission stated that the Supply Code Regulations, 2017, lay down the provisions for easy and timely release of electricity connections by discoms.

It lists various ease of doing business steps required for new connections, such as no upfront payment for new connections and connections to be provided by the discoms without any prior site visit by their officials to the property concerned.

The payment for new connections and meters installed is added to the monthly electricity bills, it said.

Charges for new connections are fixed as per the DERC Schedule of Charges Order, and the discoms cannot charge any additional costs, said the notice.

A self-declaration about the testing of internal wiring through a licensed electrical contractor needs to be submitted by the applicants for new connections.

Importantly, people can approach the consumers’ grievances redressal forum (CGRF) of any discom to complain against violations of supply code regulations, it said. If a consumer is not satisfied with the order of the CGRF, they can move to the office of the Electricity Ombudsman for redressal of the grievance, it added.