Grievance forum to handle complaints on electricity services formed

The government of Puducherry has constituted a Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) to address consumer grievances as mandated under the Electricity Act, 2003.

The three-member forum would be headed by O.M.Chandrasekar, retired district judge, Puducherry, as the chairperson and two other members, one of whom has been nominated by the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission for the State of Goa and Union Territories and the other a serving officer of the rank of an Executive Engineer from the department.

The Electricity Act, 2003 had mandated constitution of State Electricity Regulatory Commissions for each State. Similarly, the Central government had constituted the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), for the State of Goa and Union Territories, and headquartered at Gurgaon, with effect from 2008.

The JERC had notified rules under which Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum would be set up to look into grievances of electricity consumers within their area of supply.

The forum that came into operation on May 24, shall have complaints of following nature under its jurisdiction: Fuse-off call not attended in time; delays in securing a new connection or modifying existing one; voltage fluctuations unresolved for long; frequent or prolonged interruptions in power supply; complaints on faulty meters not addressed; and deficiencies in billing and collections.

The CGRF would issue notice to the officials concerned for comments, or appearance and where reconciliation fails, such orders as may be deemed fit shall be passed. Further, the orders are binding on the licensee, warranting compliance within the period specified in the order. The consumer, if unsatisfied by the order, is also empowered to file an appeal before the Ombudsman constituted by the JERC.

Under the CGRF, aggrieved consumers may register their complaints within the specified period stated in the standard of performance regulations in person or through fax, email or post to No.4, 3 Cross Street, Sathya Nagarm Saram, Puducherry-605 013; Ph: 0413-2243251, and Fax: 0413-2243151.

According to an administration release, the consumers may file their complaints in person or may appear before the Forum to plead their case during the sitting of the Forum. However, the guidelines of JERC specifically bars the assistance of an advocate.