PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION

SCO NO. 220-221, SECTOR 34-A, CHANDIGARH

 

 

                                                                                       Date  of Order: 14.01.2010

 

In the matter of :                     Implementation of Govt. of Punjab directive issued under Section 108 of the Electricity Act 2003 for compliance of Policy notified by the State Govt. for regularization of unauthorized extension in load by AP consumers by the Punjab State Elecy. Board.

 

 

Present:                                  Shri Jai Singh Gill, Chairman

                                                Shri Satpal Singh Pall, Member

 

 

ORDER

 

          

1.         The Government of Punjab (GOP), Department of Power notified a Scheme for Voluntary Disclosure of Unauthorized Extension in Load by Agricultural Pumpsets (AP) consumers in its notification No.10/78/2009-PE2/3105 dated 30th September 2009 in which it was decided that another opportunity be given to AP consumers to declare and regularize extension in load through an incentive based voluntary disclosure scheme. Simultaneously, GoP by order No.10/78/2009-PE2/3124 dated 1st October, 2009  issued a directive to the Commission under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003 requiring that it be guided by GoP policy in the implementation of this scheme. The Commission in its Order dated 16.10.2009 decided to implement the directive issued by the State Government which also implied that the Supply Code would be deemed to have been relaxed to that extent.

 

2.         The Government of Punjab has now issued another notification No.10/78/2009-PE2/4100 dated 29.12.2009 to extend the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme from 31.12.2009 to 31.1.2010. Further, through order No.10/78/2009-PE2/4115 dated 30.12.2009, GoP’s earlier directive has been reiterated to cover the extension of this scheme upto 31st January, 2010.

 

3.         In view of the provisions of Section 108 of the Electricity Act 2003 and its earlier orders in this respect, the Commission allows the implementation of the Scheme to be extended upto 31st January, 2010. Accordingly, the Supply Code will be deemed to have been further relaxed to that extent. At the same time, the Commission deems it proper to observe that in accordance with GoP policy, AP consumers are required to pay Rs.1200/- (incl. initial Security of Rs.200/-) per BHP of unauthorized extension regularized under the scheme, as against Rs.3800/- (inclusive of Rs.200/- initial Security) per BHP payable for extension in load as per the provisions of Supply Code. Consequently, the Board would face a corresponding reduction in consumer contribution in meeting the capital cost of providing the local distribution system which amount would have to be raised from other sources with the additional carrying cost having to be borne by all categories of consumers. The Commission trusts that this aspect will be kept in mind while considering the introduction of such schemes in the future.

 

 

 

                        Sd/-                                                                                Sd/-                               

            (Satpal Singh Pall)                                                         ( Jai Singh Gill )

             Member                                                                              Chairman

 

 

Place: Chandigarh

Dated: 14.01.2010