Lok Sabha Question No. 551 (STARRED), answered on 2018-04-05
Subject: Power Supply to Domestic Consumers
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.04.2018

POWER SUPPLY TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS

†*551.  SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  better power supply to domestic consumers;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is aware of the problems being faced by the  people  such  as  power  cuts,  irregularities  in  electricity  bills  and difficulties in getting new power connections and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government is taking any effective steps to address the said problems and if so, the details thereof?

A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.551 TO BE ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 05.04.2018 REGARDING POWER SUPPLY TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS.

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(a) & (b) : Electricity  is  in  the  concurrent  list.  Government  of  India  in conjunction  with  the  State  Governments  has  taken  several  steps  to ensure reliable electricity supply. Power plants have been established in the  Central  Sector  through  Central  Public  Sector  Undertakings  (CPSUs), and power is allocated to the states from them. As on 28.02.2018, power allocated to various States/UTs from Central Generating Stations is 82,214 MW. In addition, the State Governments have set up their own Generating Stations.

Further, to ensure better power supply to consumers, Government of India is assisting States through schemes like Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya) for strengthening of sub-transmission and distribution networks, electrification of villages and providing access of electricity to all unelectrified households.

(c) & (d) : Distribution of electricity is a licensed activity. Distribution licenses are issued by respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC).    SERC's  have  issued  Standard  of  Performance  (SOP)  and  supply code  to  be  followed  by  the  distribution  company  to  address  the  various problems being faced by consumers.

As per Section 57 of Electricity Act, 2003, Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum and Ombudsman are in place in most of the States to protect the interest of consumers.

Further, recognizing the requirement and importance of addressing  consumer  grievances,  Govt.  of  India  has  provided  financial assistance to Distribution Utilities under Restructured Accelerated Power Development Reforms Programme (RAPDRP), now subsumed under IPDS to set  up  dedicated  consumers  care  centers,  also  accessible  at  short  code telephone number 1912. So far, 47 States owned utilities and 10 Private Utilities are providing services on this short code telephone number.

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