Latest news with #KERC
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Workshop for officials to address consumer grievances effectively held
Consumer complaints can be effectively resolved at the officer level itself, thereby avoiding legal escalation, said Ramesh Bandisidde Gowda, MLA and chairman of Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC). He was addressing a one-day legal workshop jointly organised by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and the CESC at the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Engineers' Association auditorium at Kadakola near here. The workshop was attended by chairpersons, members, and officials of various consumer grievance redressal forums. This workshop is aimed at equipping officials with legal understanding to address consumer grievances effectively, Mr. Bandisidde Gowda said. 'When consumers encounter problems, they generally approach local officials. If those officials handle the issues with seriousness, most complaints can be resolved swiftly without reaching courts or regulatory bodies,' he observed. He said that failure by officials to fulfill their responsibilities often compels consumers to seek legal remedies. 'We have seen several such instances. However, if every officer works with dedication, the number of complaints reaching the commission or judiciary can be reduced. Due to the commitment of both officials and elected representatives, our region has witnessed a decline in grievance cases,' he claimed. Inaugurating the workshop, KERC member H.K. Jagadish highlighted the importance of legal literacy among officials. Electricity is indispensable in today's world. Understanding the evolution of electricity laws helps in resolving consumer complaints more efficiently, he said. Mr. Jagadish traced the history of electricity laws in India, noting that the first law was enacted in 1887 during the British rule with a focus on safety. Today, the electricity sector functions under the Electricity Act of 2003. With power being generated from multiple sources, consumers have now become central stakeholders in the legal and regulatory framework besides transmission and distribution subjects, he added. KERC member Javed Akhtar pointed out that there is a lack of public awareness about grievance redressal forums. 'Many consumers visit local offices to resolve their issues but remain unaware of formal complaint forums. This information gap discourages consumers from filing complaints,' he said. He urged that all Escoms should publish complaint procedures prominently on their websites, mobile apps, and notice boards for the benefit of public. KERC secretary Siddeshwar, Mysuru zone chief engineer D.J. Divakar, Hassan zone chief engineer Harish Kumar, CESC chief financial officer G. Renuka, and other senior officials were present. Technical presentations were conducted after the inauguration.
Deccan Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Smart meters mandatory for all new and temporary connections: KERC
Citing the CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Amendment Regulations dated 28.02.2022 and the KERC (Pre-paid Smart Metering) Regulations, 2024, the Commission said that other existing consumers who wish to convert their meters to smart meters can do so at their own cost.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Rooftop Aero Turbines: No promotion, no awareness from KERC or escoms
Power consumers are left confused after the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) announced that Rooftop Aero Turbines (RAT) can be installed, but the officials of electricity supply companies (escoms) said that they were unaware of it. 'I saw media reports that these wind systems can be installed and thought it would be a good addition to my existing rooftop solar system. But when I went and enquired at a Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) subdivision office, they said they knew nothing about these systems,' said Venkatachalam R., a resident of Vidyaranyapura. When enquired, even senior officials of Bescom said that they were not aware of the systems. However, the KERC said that interested consumers can directly approach the commission instead of escoms. In March this year, KERC had sought suggestions from stakeholders for the determination of the tariff for RATs. Now, as the commission did not receive any viable suggestions, it has decided to take a project-specific tariff approach. 'If any consumers are interested in installing RAT systems, then they can approach the commission, and we will determine the tariff for them based on the kind of turbine they get, the capacity, and other factors. Currently, there are two kinds of RAT systems available in the market – horizontal and vertical. One is manufactured in Europe and one in India. Consumers can procure the system, and then we will help with the determination of tariff,' explained P. Ravikumar, Chairman, KERC. While the commission had announced that promotional tariff rates will be provided for RATs as the initiative aims to encourage decentralisation of power generation and reduce dependency on the grid, officials said that no steps had been taken to promote the initiative itself. Experts said that instead of placing the onus on the consumers, the KERC, which is the subject expert in the matter, should guide them. 'Unless a thorough study is done by the KERC and they inform the consumers about where the RATs could be the most feasible, consumers will not find any incentives to install them. The commission should let them know if the RAT system will work in a particular area/region or not, as wind force is not the same everywhere,' said M.G. Prabhakar, former advisory member, KERC. 'The government does not have to go for big renewable energy projects. They need to engage and involve all the consumers. The 3 Ps, probability in terms of theory, possibility in terms of financial viability, and preferability with regards to the limit imposed on capacity should be addressed for this engagement,' he added.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
BESCOM to launch digital portal for consumer grievance management
Bengaluru (Karanataka) [India], May 14 (ANI): Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) is set to launch a digital portal aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the consumer grievance redressal process, announced N Sivashankar, Managing Director of BESCOM. He made this announcement while addressing a workshop earlier this week, organised jointly by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and BESCOM, for the office bearers and members of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) at the KEB Engineers Association Hall. 'To strengthen consumer rights and improve accountability, a dedicated digital platform is being developed for managing consumer complaints. The Chief General Manager of Corporate Affairs has been entrusted with overseeing the grievance redressal process,' Sivashankar said. He added that, as directed by the KERC Chairman, CGRFS has been constituted at the district level, comprising a Superintendent Engineer, an Executive Engineer, and independent members. 'Grievances must be addressed within stipulated timelines. If issues remain unresolved at the CGRF or corporate level, consumers can escalate their complaints to the KERC for further redressal,' he emphasised. Inaugurating the workshop, KERC Chairman and retired Chief Secretary to the Government, P. Ravikumar, stressed the importance of delivering impartial and timely justice to consumers. 'Proactive engagement by authorities is essential for the success of this grievance redressal mechanism,' he said. Highlighting the legal framework, KERC Legal Department Member and retired District Sessions Judge HK Jagadish noted, 'Sections 42(5) and 42(6) of the Electricity Act, 2003 mandate provisions for consumer grievance redressal. The CGRF and KERC, the Electricity Ombudsman, function as quasi-judicial bodies, as recognised by the Supreme Court and High Courts.' During the workshop, KERC Technical Director Srinivasappa and retired judges Krishnaiah and IF Bidari briefed officials on technical issues and common challenges faced in consumer complaint resolution. The event was also attended by KERC Secretary Siddeshwar, BESCOM Technical Director HJ Ramesh, Finance Director Mahadeva, GM of Administration and Human Resources Dr. Dayanand, GM of Consumer Relations Rajoji Rao, and Pushpa SA, Chief General Manager of Corporate Affairs. (ANI)
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bescom to set up digital portal for consumer grievance redressal
The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) will shortly launch a digital portal for consumer grievance redressal management. This was revealed by Bescom Managing Director N. Sivashankar at a workshop organised jointly by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and Bescom for the office-bearers and members of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) on May 13. The setting up of this portal is aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in the process of consumer grievance redressal. 'To strengthen consumer rights and improve accountability, a dedicated digital platform is being developed for managing consumer complaints. The Chief General Manager of Corporate Affairs has been entrusted with overseeing the grievance redressal process,' he said. Upon the directions of the chairman of KERC, Bescom has constituted CGRFs at the district level comprising a Superintendent Engineer, Executive Engineer, and independent members. 'Grievances must be addressed within stipulated timelines. If issues remain unresolved at the CGRF or corporate level, consumers can escalate their complaints to the KERC for further redressal,' Mr. Sivashankar added. Earlier this year, in the draft KERC (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) (Third Amendment) Regulations 2025, KERC had recommended that all escoms set up CGRFs in their corporate offices for efficient grievance redressal. 'Proactive engagement by authorities is essential for the success of this grievance redressal mechanism,' P. Ravikumar, Chairman, KERC, said.
