Power sector: First draft released to public

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state’s power sector is all set to get a revised electricity supply code which would serve as an umbrella document for power distribution.Among other things, the code erases the need for a separate supply code and ‘Terms and Conditions of Supply’ as is the present situation. The Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission has released the first draft of the proposed Kerala Electricity Supply Code 2011 for public scrutiny.It deals with all aspects of power distribution - supply systems, consumer classification, procedures for release and modification of connections, metering, billing, tampering, disconnections and re-connections.The Commission had framed a Supply Code under the provisions of the Electricity Act 2003. The code envisioned terms and conditions of supply of power. The Commission had approved the terms and conditions submitted by the KSEB in 2005, which served as a model for other distribution licensees in the state as well.However, a revision had been necessitated owing to the complaints regarding both documents.In an accompanying note to the first draft, the Commission had noted: “Experience has shown that the supply code and Terms and Conditions of Supply do not really reflect the concerns and spirit of the Act 2003, especially in relation to the protection of the interests of the consumers, transparency and accountability of the utilities and the changing environment in the society etc”.“Moreover, the two documents were also plagued by inconsistencies and contradictions,” the Commission noted. “We will finalise the code only after listening to public opinion,” Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman K J Mathew said.Draft posted on webThe draft is posted on www.erckerala.org. Comments and suggestions should reach the Secretary, Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission, C V Raman Pillai Road, Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram -695010 by November 30.