On April 20, 2022, the Ministry of Power has issued the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Amendment Rules, 2022 to amend Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020.
Key amendment:
- Following new definitions have been inserted:
(fa) “customer average interruption duration index” means the average interruption duration of the sustained interruptions for those who experienced interruptions during the reporting period, as specified by the State Commission.”
(fb) “customer average interruption frequency index”means the average interruption frequency of the sustained interruptions for those who experienced interruptions during the reporting period, as specified by the State Commission.”
(ja) “Momentary average frequency interruption frequency index” means the average number of momentary interruptions per consumer occurring during the reporting period, as specified by the State Commission.”
(ma) “system average interruption duration index”means the average duration of the sustained interruptions per Consumer occurring during the reporting period, as specified by the State Commission”;
(mb) “system average interruption frequency index” means the average frequency of the sustained interruptions per Consumer occurring during the reporting period, as specified by the State Commission”;
- Rule 10 which specify “Compensation mechanism” has the following sub-rules inserted namely: –
“(3) In view of the increasing pollution level particularly in the metros and the cities with a population 100,000 and above, the distribution licensee shall ensure 24×7 uninterrupted power supply to all the consumers, so that there is no requirement of running the diesel generator sets and accordingly, the State Commission shall give trajectory of system average interruption frequency index and system average interruption duration index for such cities.
(4) The State Commission may consider the customer average interruption duration index, customer average interruption frequency index and momentary average interruption frequency index as additional indicators of reliability of supply and the minimum interruption time for calculation of additional reliability indicators shall be as specified by the State Commission and in case the interruption time is not specified by the State Commission, three minutes shall be considered as interruption time for calculating the additional reliability indicators.
(5) The State Commission shall have an online mechanism for reviewing and monitoring of reliability indices of distribution licensees and such Commission may consider a separate reliability charge for the distribution company, if they require funds for investment in the infrastructure for ensuring the reliability of supply to the consumers.
(6) The consumers, who are using the diesel generator sets as essential back up power, shall endeavor to shift to cleaner technology such as renewable energy with battery storage and the like in five years from the date of commencement of these rules or as per the timelines given by the State Commission for such replacement based on the reliability of supply in thatcity covered under area of supply of the distribution licensee.
(7) The process of giving temporary connections to the consumers for construction activities or any temporary usage and the like shall be simplified by the distribution licensee and given on an urgent basis and not later than forty eight hoursand within seven days in case augmentation of the distribution system is required and this shall avoid any use of diesel generator sets for temporary activities in the area of the distribution licensee.
(8) The temporary connection shall be through a prepayment meter or through consumer meters as defined in the Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations as amended from time to time”.
