Chairman of the Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission, SI Longkumer in an interaction with The Morung Express. (Morung photo)
Dimapur| August 22 : In what could perhaps be the best solution to tackle Nagaland’s ailing power sector, the Nagaland Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), an autonomous body created under The Electricity Act 2003, has formulated a draft regulation on a ‘Standard Performance for Distribution and Transmission’ of the Licensee for the power sector in the State. The draft regulation is currently under study, with the NERC inviting suggestions, opinions and objections from the government and the public. The same has been advertised in the newspapers on August 10, 2011. But NERC feels the need for more comprehensive awareness so that the stakeholders can provide suggestions to improve services provided to them.
NERC Chairman SI Longkumer, in an interaction with The Morung Express last week said that the draft regulation aims to provide better facilities to consumers, at the same time ensure accountability and transparency of the licensee (i.e. the Department of Power). Longkumer explained as per The Electricity Act 2003, NERC is empowered to frame regulations similar to those existing in other states of the country. The draft proposal has been for prepared by a Consultancy firm based in Hyderabad after thoroughly studying the local scenario for two years. The draft is legally binding and once adopted, the licensee will function as per the regulations. The state power department is currently functioning under a general condition of power supply.
Longkumer, who was a former chief engineer with the state power department said, the draft is consumer-friendly but has also taken into account measures not to cripple the department. In fact, he said that the draft regulation will help in improving the department’s functioning. He said the draft will allow the department to improve existing power system and resources because the government is also expected to abide by the regulation. “Many a time the department’s requirements are not fulfilled by the government. But with this regulation, the government cannot deny it,” he said. Therefore, he appealed to the licensee and the government to thoroughly study the draft proposal which is available at the at the chief engineer’s office in Kohima and the NERC email: nerc_kohima@yahoo.com. The Commission has given 45 days time after which no changes will be considered.
The draft proposal particularly emphasizes on guaranteed standards of the licensee like restoration of power within stipulated time, quality of power supply, complaints about meter, release of new connections/ additional load, transfer of ownership and conversion of services, complaints about consumer bills, underground cable breakdowns and distribution transformer failure. Monetary compensation for violation of standards to the consumers has also been included. Compensations will be adjusted in the billing in order to maintain transparency. If the consumer or the licensee has any grievance, the complaint may be forwarded to NERC, which is also a quasi-judicial body empowered to conduct hearings. In case the complainant is not satisfied, he/she may -via the Commission- approach the Appellate Tribunal of Electricity in New Delhi.
Longkumer said that the draft regulation will go a long way in improving the crumbling power sector in the State. With no standard of performance of the power department or guarantees for the consumers, a very important aspect of consumer rights is being violated, he pointed out. He also sympathized with the department which incurring heavy commercial loss is due to theft of electricity, deficiency in metering, billing, misuse of category such as assigning of domestic category to actual commercial category consumer either inadvertently or by design. He applauded the efforts of the department in curbing power theft.
NERC has appealed to all citizens and the government to give suggestions and objections, if any, on the draft regulation so that the entire state will benefit from it. The draft regulation once approved will be sent to the National Electricity Regulation Commission for comments and suggestions. NERC is currently working on six other draft regulations to improve the power sector in Nagaland. Apart from that, NERC has also constituted a State Advisory Committee, State Coordination Forum and District Coordination Committee for smooth and coordinated development of the power system in the State.
NERC Chairman SI Longkumer, in an interaction with The Morung Express last week said that the draft regulation aims to provide better facilities to consumers, at the same time ensure accountability and transparency of the licensee (i.e. the Department of Power). Longkumer explained as per The Electricity Act 2003, NERC is empowered to frame regulations similar to those existing in other states of the country. The draft proposal has been for prepared by a Consultancy firm based in Hyderabad after thoroughly studying the local scenario for two years. The draft is legally binding and once adopted, the licensee will function as per the regulations. The state power department is currently functioning under a general condition of power supply.
Longkumer, who was a former chief engineer with the state power department said, the draft is consumer-friendly but has also taken into account measures not to cripple the department. In fact, he said that the draft regulation will help in improving the department’s functioning. He said the draft will allow the department to improve existing power system and resources because the government is also expected to abide by the regulation. “Many a time the department’s requirements are not fulfilled by the government. But with this regulation, the government cannot deny it,” he said. Therefore, he appealed to the licensee and the government to thoroughly study the draft proposal which is available at the at the chief engineer’s office in Kohima and the NERC email: nerc_kohima@yahoo.com. The Commission has given 45 days time after which no changes will be considered.
The draft proposal particularly emphasizes on guaranteed standards of the licensee like restoration of power within stipulated time, quality of power supply, complaints about meter, release of new connections/ additional load, transfer of ownership and conversion of services, complaints about consumer bills, underground cable breakdowns and distribution transformer failure. Monetary compensation for violation of standards to the consumers has also been included. Compensations will be adjusted in the billing in order to maintain transparency. If the consumer or the licensee has any grievance, the complaint may be forwarded to NERC, which is also a quasi-judicial body empowered to conduct hearings. In case the complainant is not satisfied, he/she may -via the Commission- approach the Appellate Tribunal of Electricity in New Delhi.
Longkumer said that the draft regulation will go a long way in improving the crumbling power sector in the State. With no standard of performance of the power department or guarantees for the consumers, a very important aspect of consumer rights is being violated, he pointed out. He also sympathized with the department which incurring heavy commercial loss is due to theft of electricity, deficiency in metering, billing, misuse of category such as assigning of domestic category to actual commercial category consumer either inadvertently or by design. He applauded the efforts of the department in curbing power theft.
NERC has appealed to all citizens and the government to give suggestions and objections, if any, on the draft regulation so that the entire state will benefit from it. The draft regulation once approved will be sent to the National Electricity Regulation Commission for comments and suggestions. NERC is currently working on six other draft regulations to improve the power sector in Nagaland. Apart from that, NERC has also constituted a State Advisory Committee, State Coordination Forum and District Coordination Committee for smooth and coordinated development of the power system in the State.
