Relief to consumers for burnt or stolen meters

  • | Saturday | 24th August, 2019

Kuldip BhatiaLudhiana, August 23There is good news for electricity consumers whose energy meters are burnt or stolen and they are put to harassment for replacement of damaged or stolen meters and restoration of power supply. In such cases the investigation report regarding reason for damage must be supplied to the consumer within 30 days. The instructions conveyed as per Regulation 21.4.2 with regard to stolen meters say that where a meter is installed at a consumer’s premises is reported to have been stolen, an FIR to this effect shall be lodged by the consumer. If the meter is installed outside the premises, the distribution licensee (PSPCL) shall lodge an FIR in such cases on receipt of intimation from the consumer or otherwise. The cost of the meter shall be recovered from the consumer through electricity bills of the immediate succeeding month if the meter is installed on the premises of the consumer.

Kuldip Bhatia Ludhiana, August 23 There is good news for electricity consumers whose energy meters are burnt or stolen and they are put to harassment for replacement of damaged or stolen meters and restoration of power supply. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has issued explicit instructions to all heads of distribution system in the state for immediate replacement of energy meters and in case a new tested meter is not readily available, to provide direct supply to the consumer. The PSPCL Chief Engineer/Commercial has, in an office memo has cited Regulation 21.4.1 of Supply Code 2014 which says – “In case a consumer’s meter gets dead, defective, burnt or stops working, a new tested meter shall be installed within the time period prescribed in Standards of Performance on receipt of a complaint or detection by the distribution licensee (PSPCL). However, supply of electricity to the premises shall be immediately restored even if direct supply is to be resorted to, till such time another tested meter is installed.” With regard to cost of the damaged/burnt meter, it has been laid down that if the meter is burnt due to reason attributable to the consumer, the cost of the meter shall be debited to the consumer who shall also be informed about his liability to bear the cost. In such cases the investigation report regarding reason for damage must be supplied to the consumer within 30 days. The instructions conveyed as per Regulation 21.4.2 with regard to stolen meters say that where a meter is installed at a consumer’s premises is reported to have been stolen, an FIR to this effect shall be lodged by the consumer. If the meter is installed outside the premises, the distribution licensee (PSPCL) shall lodge an FIR in such cases on receipt of intimation from the consumer or otherwise. The cost of the meter shall be recovered from the consumer through electricity bills of the immediate succeeding month if the meter is installed on the premises of the consumer. The instructions make it very clear that in view of these regulations, in cases where the stolen meter was installed outside the consumer’s premises or where meter gets burnt due to reasons not attributable to consumer, the cost of the meter is not to be recovered from the consumer and such meters are to be replaced by the PSPCL on its own expenditure.

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