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Delhi: Compensation For Unscheduled Power Cuts, LG Approves Proposal

Delhi has become the first city in the country to have a policy to compensate consumers for unscheduled outages.
Anil Baijal And AAP

Image Courtesy: Hindustan Times

AAP government’s proposal to give monetary compensation to consumers in case of unscheduled power cuts – a first of its kind pro-power consumer policy – has been approved by the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

According to the policy, the power distribution companies or discoms will have to restore the electricity supply within an hour or else, will be liable to pay the consumers.

The policy directs that after the first hour of the unscheduled blackout, discoms will have to pay a penalty of Rs 50 per consumer for the first two hours, followed by Rs 100 after two hours. The first hour exemption from the penalty will be available only once a day for the discoms.

Appreciating the approval, CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted: “This is a revolutionary and a very innovative policy of Delhi government which will make discoms directly accountable to people.”

There are three private power discoms including the BSES companies – BYPL and BRPL, and the Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) that supply power to the city, barring areas under the New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Cantonment.

The compensation earned by the consumers will be adjusted against their monthly power bill, said the Delhi government.

In case the compensation is not paid by the discoms, the consumers can lodge a complaint with the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC). The amount of compensation in such cases will be Rs 5,000 or five times the compensation payable, whichever is higher, said the statement.

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