Electricity Act, 2003
42. Duties of
distribution licensee and open access.-
1.
It
shall be the duty of a distribution licensee to develop and maintain an
efficient, co-ordinated and economical distribution system in his area of
supply and to supply electricity in accordance with the provisions contained in
this Act.
2.
The
State Commission shall introduce open access in such phases and subject to such
conditions, (including the cross subsidies, and other operational constraints)
as may be specified within one year of the appointed date by it and in
specifying the extent of open access in successive phases and in determining
the charges for wheeling, it shall have due regard to all relevant factors
including such cross subsidies, and other operational constraints:
Provided
that
such open access shall be allowed on payment of a surcharge in addition to the
charges for wheeling as may be determined by the State Commission:
Provided
further that
such surcharge shall be utilised to meet the requirements of current level of
cross subsidy within the area of supply of the distribution licensee:
Provided
also that
such surcharge and cross subsidies shall be progressively reduced in the manner
as may be specified by the State Commission:
Provided
also that
such surcharge shall not be leviable in case open access is Provided to a
person who has established a captive generating plant for carrying the
electricity to the destination of his own use:
provided
also that
the State Government shall, not later than five years from the date of
commencement of the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2003, by regulations, provide
such open access to all consumers who require a supply of electricity where the
maximum power to be made available at any time exceeds one megawatt.
1.
2.
3.
Where
any person, whose premises are situated within the area of supply of a
distribution licensee, (not being a local authority engaged in the business of
distribution of electricity before the appointed date) requires a supply of
electricity from a generating company or any licensee other than such
distribution licensee, such person may, by notice, require the distribution
licensee for wheeling such electricity in accordance with regulations made by
the State Commission and the duties of the distribution licensee with respect
to such supply shall be of a common carrier providing non-discriminatory open
access.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Where
the State Commission permits a consumer or class of consumers to receive supply
of electricity from a person other than the distribution licensee of his area
of supply, such consumer shall be liable to pay an additional surcharge on the
charges of wheeling, as may be specified by the State Commission, to meet the
fixed cost of such distribution licensee arising out of his obligation to
supply.
5.
Every
distribution licensee shall, within six months from the appointed date or date
of grant of licence, whichever is earlier, establish a forum for redressal of
grievances of the consumers in accordance with the guidelines as may be
specified by the State Commission.
6.
Any
consumer, who is aggrieved by non-redressal of his grievances under subsec.
(5), may make a representation for the redressal of his grievance to an
authority to be known as Ombudsman to be appointed or disignated by the State
Commission.
7.
The
Ombudsman shall settle the grievance of the consumer within such time and in
such manner as may be specified by the State Commission.
8.
The
provisions of sub-sections (5), (6) and (7) shall be without prejudice to right
which the consumer may have apart from the rights, conferred upon him by those
subsections.