New guidelines mean electricity connections within just 15 days

The move is likely to benefit residents of unauthorised colonies across the Capital

Lighting up:Nearly 15,000 applications for electricity connection have been on hold for more than a year.— File Photo

In a good news, consumers in the Capital will be entitled to get new electricity connections within 15 days of submitting their applications. Besides, the regulator has also resolved the issue of sanctioned load capacity in households.

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) on Thursday confirmed that under the new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Power, it has been made mandatory to provide electricity connection within 15 days to the consumers in normal conditions.

Nearly 15,000 applications for electricity connection have been on hold for more than a year as power distribution companies claim they are unable to set up infrastructure for want of space. The need for electrical approval for 11 KV installations carried out by discoms and allowing self certification by discom engineers in such cases has also been waived off. The move is likely to benefit residents of unauthorised colonies across the Capital.

Tariff rationalised

“The necessary changes to allow low-tension connection up to 150 KVA have been carried. We have also rationalised the tariff for the same in 2015,” said an official of the power regulator.

Stipulated time has been fixed for each step in providing the connection. Within three days of online form submission for electricity connection, the field inspection of the site will be done, which will lead to the process of estimate preparation, load sanction and intimation for fee deposit to be completed in the next four days.

After this, installation work including meter and flow of electricity will be done in eight days, thus completing the whole process in 15 days. While applying for connection, consumers will be required to provide the self certification for type of consumer along with ID proof and premises ownership.

Meanwhile, the power regulator has brought fresh guidelines which will resolve issues for those who are troubled with varied sanctioned load capacities. Under the amended rules, discoms will now have to take average readings for four months to decide upon the sanctioned load of a household.

“Earlier discoms used to randomly calculate with three highest readings for sanctioned load. But now average readings will be taken,” said a discom official.

Discoms will take average readings for 4 months to decide upon the sanctioned load of a household