SC directions to benefit electricity consumers

The strictures passed by the highest court for preventing needless litigation should end up making electricity more affordable

All discussions on the power sector inevitably end up chastising distribution companies (discoms) for their errant behaviour — both with their suppliers and with their customers. This “discom-bashing” has been going on for well over three decades and ranges from commentaries on unacceptable transmission and distribution losses, irrational tariffs, corruption at various levels, poor customer service, suspicious accounting, to generally holding the power sector to ransom.

It has to be recognised that some discoms (both private and state-owned) have managed to emerge out of the sectoral morass and delivered outstanding improvements. But they are more the exception than the norm. Overall,