Kejriwal warns discoms over power outages

In a stern warning to discoms, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said they will be made to compensate consumers for even one-hour-long outage if they do not spruce up their supply network in the next six months.
The warning has come in the wake of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) issuing an order to discoms and power distribution companies to compensate consumers for unscheduled outages extending up to two hours. Penalties can go up to Rs 100 per hour.
Kejriwal said there is need to make discoms "accountable for outages" and then, Delhiites will be benefited from the privatisation of power sector.

"For now, we have asked discoms to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts extending up to two hours, but after six months if there is no improvement in their power supply network, government will bring it down to one hour norm," he said here.
"The privatisation of power sector had been done in order to provide better facility of electricity to Delhiites," Kejriwal said, adding that the accountability of power distribution companies will be questioned if power outages continue.
"Why electricity wires and transfers get damaged only in Delhi? Why is there no such incidents in Washington, London and New York?" he asked.

"We will also make Delhi a world-class city and for this, the accountability of discoms should be fixed for power outages. They should be penalised for outages. There will then be benefit of privatisation of power sector in the national capital," he added.

As per the DERC's order issued yesterday, power distribution companies will have to compensate to consumers for unscheduled power cuts extending up to two hours.
The move followed frequent power outages this month in the
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As per new power supply code, Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) has set a deadline of three hours for fixing a blown fuse or damaged service line and failing which, power companies will have to pay Rs 100 per consumer for every subsequent hour.

For fault in distribution line, discoms will have to restore supply within two hours and if they failed to do the same, they will be liable to pay Rs 50 per consumer for first two hours of default and thereafter Rs 100 for every subsequent hour.
The power regulator has also set a deadline of two hours to rectify the failure of distribution transformer failing which discoms will have to pay Rs 50 per consumer for first two hours and thereafter Rs 100 per consumer for every subsequent hour.
In its notification, DERC has also stated that scheduled power outages should not exceed 12 hours and the restoration of supply should be done preferably by 6 PM.

According to the notification, in case of power supply failure, discoms will pay compensation to the affected consumers by way of adjustment against current and/or future bills for supply of electricity within 90 days of failure of the discoms to meet the guaranteed 'Standards of Performance'.
"If the licensee (discoms) fails to pay compensation, the affected consumer(s) may approach the ombudsman. In case, the claim for compensation is upheld by the ombudsman, the compensation shall be determined by the ombudsman at the rate of Rs 5,000 or five times the compensation payable as per Schedule-III to these regulations, whichever is higher," it said.