Latest news with #DISCOM
News18
01-08-2025
- General
- News18
How To Get A Faulty Electricity Meter Replaced For Free And Claim Refund
Meters can over-record usage, show static readings or blink strange error codes. If your electricity bill shoots up, despite no major appliance changes, that's your first clue. Many Indian households are unknowingly footing inflated electricity bills. Not because they're using more power, but because their electricity meters are lying. Aging meters, tampered ones, and even voltage-damaged meters often go undetected, especially in older apartments and small-town DISCOM networks. Here's the good news: if your meter is defective, you have the right to get it tested and replaced for free. The law backs you. And if overbilling has occurred, you can even claim a refund or adjustment. This explainer walks you through the what, why, and how including official rules, timelines, and real-world steps. What Counts as a Faulty Meter? Meters can go wrong in several ways and they don't always stop working. Sometimes they over-record usage, show static readings, or blink strange error codes. If your electricity bill suddenly shoots up, despite no major appliance changes, that's your first clue. Other signs include: What the Law Says Under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020 and state-level electricity supply codes, every consumer has the right to a free replacement of their meter if it's found to be faulty or over-recording. If you suspect an issue: If the meter turns out to be functioning fine, you may be charged a nominal fee for the test (usually Rs50–Rs200). But if it's faulty, you pay nothing. How to Get It Replaced: Step-by-Step Visit your local electricity office, customer care center, or the DISCOM's online portal. Submit a written complaint with your consumer number, meter number, and reason for suspected fault. Ask for an acknowledgement or complaint ID. Clearly state that you want an official test conducted as per Electricity Rules. You can request testing at a third-party lab approved by the state regulator, if you want more neutrality. Within 7–15 days (depending on your state), a technician should inspect the meter. The test may involve comparing your meter with a calibrated reference meter or conducting a phantom load test. If the meter is over-recording, slow, or erratic, it will be declared faulty. The DISCOM must replace it and refund the test fee, if collected. A new meter is installed at your premises. The meter number and initial reading must be recorded in your bill. The old meter is taken for internal audit or stored by the utility for verification. You can demand recalculated bills based on past average usage or actual readings. Refunds are either credited to your next bill or transferred to your bank account. Escalate if there's no action If the DISCOM doesn't respond, escalate the matter to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF). Beyond that, you can approach the Electricity Ombudsman or a local consumer court. Real-World Cases Back This In 2024, Jaipur's DISCOM initiated a large-scale meter replacement drive after internal audits found thousands of faulty meters. In multiple states including Maharashtra, Punjab, and Karnataka, utility regulators have directed DISCOMs to reimburse consumers for excessive billing caused by defective meters. Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board also issue regular service standards that define how long a DISCOM can take to respond to complaints and what penalties apply if they fail to act. Your electricity meter is the source of truth for every unit billed to your household. If it's faulty, you're not just losing money, you're paying for something you never consumed. Armed with the law and a simple complaint letter, you can get your meter replaced, your bills corrected, and your rights respected. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : electricity bills Free electricity Power Outages view comments Location : Bengaluru, India, India First Published: August 01, 2025, 10:29 IST News explainers How To Get A Faulty Electricity Meter Replaced For Free And Claim Refund Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers
Tirupati: APSPDCL Chairman & Managing Director K Santhosha Rao asked the officers and staff to perform their duties with the aim of supplying uninterrupted power to the consumers. APSPDCL CMD K Santhosha Rao held a review meeting with the DISCOM officials at the corporate office here on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the officers and staff should be in the headquarters and provide better services to the consumers. He said that maximum number of feeder trippings were recorded in Anantapur circle and the minimum in Kurnool circle from April-2025 to June-2025. The concerned officials should review continuously on feeder trippings and are advised to take steps to prevent them completely. He said that there was a need to create widespread awareness among the consumers about the PM Suryagarh scheme in the company. The benefits of the PM Suryagarh scheme should be explained to the consumers in a comprehensive manner and the usage of solar power should be encouraged. Similarly, the officials were instructed to expedite the sanction of agricultural electricity services to the farmers. If damaged electricity poles are found in the fields, they should be replaced immediately and loose lines should be repaired. He instructed to undertake maintenance work of substations and lines in the company regularly. Further, he directed the officials to take necessary steps to reduce line losses. He also warned that pending work orders should be closed immediately and strict action would be taken against the officials who did not close the work orders. He asked the officials to take necessary steps to reduce transformer failures. He ordered that if transformers get repaired anywhere in the field, they should be replaced immediately. He warned that action would be taken against the concerned officials and staff if there are many transformer failures. Similarly, he advised that priority should be given to the survival of the company by collecting the electricity bill dues that have been pending for a long. Consumers can bring power outages and problems to the attention of the officials through toll-free number: 1912 or 1800 425 155333, Chatbot, WhatsApp chat on 91333 31912 for resolving. HRD K Guravaiah, Director/Projects P Ayub Khan, J Ramana Devi, Vara Kumar, Dharmagnani, Janakiram, K Adiseshaiah and Shobha Valentina were present.
Entrepreneur
09-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
India's Solar Landscape Shifts with Storage, Rooftop, and Domestic Push
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India's solar energy sector is charging ahead with unprecedented momentum. As of March 31, 2025, the country had commissioned nearly 85.6 GW of utility-scale solar capacity, with another 68.2 GW in the pipeline following completed auctions. This puts India's total installed solar capacity, when factoring in rooftop and other segments, on track to reach approximately 116 GW by mid-year, bringing the nation closer to its target of 280 GW by 2030. The fiscal year 2025 alone saw India add 17.4 GW of utility-scale capacity and 5.15 GW of rooftop solar installations. Rajasthan led the race with 6.5 GW added, followed by Gujarat (3.6 GW) and Maharashtra (2.3 GW). Rajasthan continues to dominate in cumulative capacity too, with 26.9 GW installed, dwarfing other states like Gujarat (12.8 GW) and Karnataka (10.6 GW). As per a report by JMK Research & Analytics, the coming year is expected to deliver even more: 21.2 GW of new utility-scale projects and 7.2 GW from rooftop and onsite models are slated for commissioning in FY2026. If realized, this would mark one of the highest annual growths in India's solar history. The sector's rapid scale-up is being powered not only by grid-scale utility projects but also by a strong push in decentralized, rooftop solar adoption. "Rooftop solar in India has crossed 11.1 GW as of mid-2025, with Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh among the top contributors," said Pratik Mandvia, solar business head at Mufin Green Finance. He pointed to the central government's PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar systems on 10 million homes, as a key catalyst. Rooftop solar, still a relatively small share of the total capacity, is accelerating fast. "In India, the rooftop solar market is rip-roaring and is slated to hit 17 GW installed capacity by FY25 and, later, somewhere between 25-30 GW installed capacities by FY27," noted Mukesh Gupta, Co-founder of Maxvolt Energy. Gupta emphasized how rooftop systems ease grid pressure, cut emissions, and enhance energy security—essential ingredients for India's net-zero vision by 2070. The momentum is reinforced by favorable policy mechanisms such as the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme, solar subsidies, and domestic manufacturing incentives. Mandvia highlighted the broader implications: "Each megawatt installed saves over 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually. By turning households into power producers, rooftop solar supports both energy access and sustainability." Corporate and utility-scale developers are also racing ahead. According to the JMK report, Adani, ReNew, and Acme were the top three developers to commission the most utility-scale solar projects under DISCOM PPAs in FY2025. In the open access segment, Serentica, JSW Energy, and Greenko led new capacity additions. Among EPC contractors, Tata Power, Jakson Green, and Sterling & Wilson dominated the third-party utility-scale solar market. On the rooftop front, Tata Power Solar, Mahindra Solarize, and Orb Energy deployed the most projects. Module supply and exports also shifted significantly. Waaree, Jinko, and Longi emerged as the top module suppliers domestically, while First Solar, Adani, and Waaree were key exporters. First Solar alone exported nearly 66.7 per cent of its total module production in FY2025. In the inverter segment, Sungrow, Sineng, TBEA, and FIMER led supply. Expanded Capacity Alongside solar deployment, India's battery energy storage capacity is finally catching up. According to Mercom India Research, more than 341 MWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) were installed in 2024, a sixfold increase from 2023. The bulk of this capacity came from solar systems paired with storage, with 60 per cent of installations in that category. By December 2024, total BESS capacity had reached 442 MWh. Looking ahead, over 4 GWh of standalone BESS, 4 GW of solar-plus-storage, and over 16 GW of renewable-plus-storage projects are under development. India has also made strides in pumped storage projects (PSPs), adding 4.7 GW to date, with another 51 GW in various stages of planning and development. The convergence of policy support, corporate investment, and technological improvements is reshaping India's energy future. Falling costs, increased financing access, and newer technologies such as high-efficiency panels and storage integration are setting the stage for continued expansion. The push for a 100 GW domestic module manufacturing capacity by 2030, under India's "Atma Nirbhar" (self-reliant) strategy, is further reinforcing the transition.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Energy police stations will be opened in six districts of Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal: If things go well, energy police stations will be opened in six districts of Madhya Pradesh. The talk about opening energy police stations has been going on for more than a decade. Now, the energy department has sent a proposal in this regard to the govt. The proposal was also put forth before the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on July 2, when the CM reviewed the works of the energy department. Sources said that an energy police structure will be established in the state. As per the proposal, in the first phase, one special electricity police station will be set up in each of the six major cities, including Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Rewa, and Ujjain. In the coming years, these police stations will be established at all district headquarters. These police stations will provide security to inspection teams during checking campaigns, conduct surprise inspections, prepare case diaries, file FIRs against accused under the Electricity Act, and monitor court proceedings to ensure the protection of DISCOM property and recovery of dues under the Recovery of Dues Act. "The proposal is yet to get a final nod from the govt. It is aimed at putting a check on power theft. Personnel from the home department will be deployed," Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Power Management Company Limited, Avinash Lawaniya told TOI. Sources said that distribution losses in the state are far higher than the losses reported in other states like Gujarat. Distribution loss means the energy which is purchased and supplied but could not be billed by the DISCOM. Barring one West DISCOM, the energy losses reported by the two other DISCOMs, central and east, are far above the normative or allowable losses decided by the regulator, said sources. All these moves, including the installation of smart meters, are aimed at reducing the losses, thus reducing the expenses of the DISCOMs, added sources.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Power Ministry unveils task force to conceive India Energy Stack
New Delhi: The Ministry of Power on Saturday announced the launch of a task force to conceive the India Energy Stack (IES), an initiative aimed at creating a unified, secure, and interoperable digital public infrastructure (DPI) for the energy sector. The IES will play a vital role in integrating renewable energy, enhancing DISCOM efficiency , and delivering transparent, reliable, and future-ready power services, an official statement quoted Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar as saying. "There is an urgent need for developing robust DPI in the power sector to manage the country's rising demand, ensure grid stability, and empower consumers. What Aadhaar did for identity and UPI achieved for digital payments, the India Energy Stack will accomplish for the power sector - unlocking seamless, secure, and consumer-centric energy services for every citizen," he added. As India charts its path to becoming a USD 5 trillion economy and advances towards its net-zero commitments, the power sector faces both unprecedented opportunities and complex challenges, the statement said. Rapid growth in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and consumer participation in energy markets is transforming the sector, but fragmented systems and a lack of seamless digital integration remain key barriers, it pointed out. To address these issues, the ministry is reimagining the sector's digital foundation through the IES - a DPI that will provide a standardised, secure, and open platform to manage, monitor, and innovate across the electricity value chain. The IES will offer unique IDs for consumers, assets, and transactions; real-time, consent-based data sharing; open APIs(Application Programming Interface) for seamless system integration; and tools for consumer empowerment, market access, and innovation. Apart from conceiving the IES, the ministry will undertake a 12-month Proof of Concept (PoC) to demonstrate IES through real-world use cases in partnership with selected utilities. This includes piloting the Utility Intelligence Platform (UIP), a modular, analytics-driven application built on IES to support utilities, policymakers, and consumers with real-time insights and smarter energy management. To guide these initiatives, the ministry has constituted a dedicated task force comprising experts from the technology, power sector, and regulatory domains, which will steer the development, pilot implementation, and nationwide scale-up of the IES.
