Those living in metropolitan areas will now get electricity connections in just three days instead of seven, and consumers can now get a separate power connection for charging their electric vehicles (EVs). All these have been enabled by the government as the Ministry of Power on February 23 said it has amended the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 to fast-track certain processes.
"The period for obtaining a new electricity connection under the Rules has been reduced from seven days to three days in metropolitan areas, from 15 days to seven days in other municipal areas, and from 30 days to 15 days in rural areas. However, in rural areas with hilly terrain, the period for new connections or modifications in existing connections will remain 30 days," the Ministry of Power said in a statement.
Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh said these amendments further reduce the timeline for getting new electricity connections and that even simplify the process of setting up rooftop solar installations. Singh said the amendments empower consumers living in multi-storied flats to choose their connection type and ensure separate billing for common areas and backup generators in residential societies, thus enhancing transparency.
The amendments also provide for check meters to be installed by distribution companies in case of consumer complaints to verify electricity consumption.
Rooftop Solar
The timeline for a distribution licensee to commission Rooftop Solar PV systems has also been reduced from 30 days to 15 days. This is significant since the government has pledged to install rooftop solar in one crore households in a year, and is giving consumers a benefit of 300 units of free electricity every month.
"Exemption has been given for the requirement of technical feasibility study, for systems up to a capacity of 10 kW. For systems of capacity higher than 10 kW, the timeline for completing the feasibility study has been reduced from 20 days to 15 days. Further, in case the study is not completed within the stipulated time, the approval will be deemed to have been given," the ministry stated.
Additionally, it has now been mandated that the distribution system strengthening necessary for rooftop solar PV systems up to 5 kW capacity will be done by the distribution company at its own cost, it added.
Mandatory additional meter in cases of complaints
In cases where consumers raise complaints about meter readings 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.
Additional rights for residential 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 connections and to those who avail of individual connections, the ministry said in its statement.
"Metering, billing, and collection will be done separately for: (i) individual electricity consumption sourced from the distribution licensee, (ii) individual consumption of backup power supplied by the residential association, and (iii) electricity consumption for common areas of such residential associations, which is sourced from the distribution licensee," it said.
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