UP: More than 15 lakh electricity consumers hope for relief

Lucknow: An important step has been taken towards providing relief to electricity consumers in Uttar Pradesh. The order to increase the electricity load of more than 47 lakh electricity consumers of the state without their consent has now been challenged in the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission. Along with this, a proposal to amend the law has also been filed to continue the benefits of the subsidized electricity scheme to poor and needy consumers.

The increase in electricity load has affected a large number of consumers who were earlier eligible for subsidized electricity on the basis of low electricity consumption. According to the information, out of 47 lakh consumers, about 15 lakh consumers have fallen out of the scope of subsidized electricity due to increase in electricity load. This is expected to put additional financial burden on these consumers.

Consumer organizations have approached the Electricity Regulatory Commission regarding the matter. The complaint states that increasing the electricity load without taking the consent of consumers is against due process. Their argument is that while taking electricity connection, the consumers determine the load as per their requirement, in such a situation, increasing the load without information and consent is a violation of the rights of the consumers.

Consumer organizations say that the increase in electricity load has a direct impact on the electricity bill. Fixed charge and other charges in electricity bill are decided on the basis of load. In such a situation, consumers whose load has been increased may have to make additional payments every month. It is likely to have a greater impact especially on poor and middle class families.

It is being told that the electricity load of a large number of domestic consumers in the state was automatically increased. Behind this, it was revealed that at the departmental level, the process should be adopted on the basis of power consumption data and connection capacity. However, the consumer side says that it was necessary to inform them and take their consent before any change.

In this matter, now through a petition filed in the Regulatory Commission, it has been demanded that the order to increase the electricity load should be reviewed and relief should be given to the affected consumers. Besides, it has also been demanded that the poor consumers whose benefits of the subsidized electricity scheme have ended due to increase in load, should be included in the scope of this scheme again.

For this, a proposal to change the law has also been made. The proposal states that poor consumers should not be excluded from government relief schemes due to technicalities like increasing electricity load. The purpose of subsidized electricity is to provide relief to the economically weaker sections, hence it is important to keep the interests of consumers in mind in the rules for determining eligibility.

Experts say that to improve the power system, it is necessary to decide the load according to the actual consumption and need of the consumers, but for this a transparent process should be adopted. If it is necessary to increase the load of a consumer, he should be informed first and given an opportunity to register his objection.

Consumer organizations have expressed hope that the Electricity Regulatory Commission will take a decision in this matter keeping in mind the interests of consumers. He says that such decisions should not be taken regarding a basic facility like electricity, which will suddenly increase the financial burden on the common people.

At present, the matter of increasing the electricity load of 47 lakh consumers is awaiting hearing in the Commission. If the Commission gives a decision in favor of consumers then lakhs of families can get relief. Especially those more than 15 lakh consumers, who have been left out of the subsidized electricity scheme due to increase in load, are expected to get benefits again.