Grewal lashes out at PSPCL for poor consumer services

Ludhiana, January 24, 2014: Punjab Small Industry and Export Corporation (PSIEC) former vice chairman, Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said that the SAD-BJP Government has made several efforts to boost the industrial sector in Punjab.

In a statement here today, he added due to these efforts of the SAD-BJP Government several business houses are keen to invest in Punjab. He said that now they have to check Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) which is providing poor services to the consumers in Punjab.

Talking with the media persons here today, Grewal lashed out at PSPCL for poor consumer services and absolute non-adherence of Standards of Performance mandated by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) appointed by Government of Punjab. PSERC has specified critical distribution parameters to provide efficient, reliable and safe system of electricity through its regulations provided in its Supply Code. These Minimum Standards of Performance provides strict timelines to resolve various consumer grievances such as Normal Fuse Off, Overhead Line Breakdowns, Underground Cable Breakdowns, Distribution Transformer Failure, Power Transformer Failure, Street Light Faults, Period of Scheduled Outage, Voltage Fluctuations, Meter Complaints, Release of New Connection, Transfer of Title or Conversion of Services, Shifting of Meter/Service Connection and other Services, Complaints about Consumer’s Bills and Restoration of Supply.

Grewal stated that PSERC mandates a compensation to the consumer in case of non-fulfillment of these Minimum Standards of Performance. Compensation varies from Rs 50 to Rs 5000 for each default for each consumer. It is well known that PSPCL neither fulfils these Minimum Standard of Performance (MSOP) nor compensates any consumer towards any such lapse whereas PSERC mandates payment of such compensation by the way of adjustment in Electricity Bills. For instance, PSERC mandates a normal fuse off complaint shall be addressed within 4 hours in cities, towns and urban areas and in case PSPCL fails to resolve the complaint within 4 hours, it shall remit Rs 50 as compensation by the way of adjustment in the next bill of the consumer.

Grewal added PSERC mandates registration of each and every complaint filed by the consumer verbally, telephonically or in writing as per a duly approved Consumer Complaint Handling Procedure whereas there is hardly any such effective system in place to register and address consumer complaints. “According to the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) filed by the PSPCL with the PSERC, it received only 2462 complaints in a year from over 65 lakh consumers across Punjab whereas on an average more than 10000 complaints are received daily by the PSPCL which clearly means PSPCL had fudged Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) figures to avoid compensation and save itself from the wrath of PSERC ”, added Grewal.

Grewal stated that he will write to Shanta Kumar MP ( Rajya Sabha ) Prabhari Punjab Pradesh, Sukhbir Singh Badal President Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD ), Deputy Chief Minister and Power Minister Punjab, Kamal Sharma Punjab State President Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tikshan Sud Political Advisor to CM Punjab and also to PSERC to pass strict instructions to PSPCL to ensure registration of each and every complaint and its quick resolution, adhere to the Minimum Standard of performance (MSOP) as mandated by PSERC and compensate each and every consumer in case of any failure on its part.//ludhiana news online, ludhiana news in English, ludhiana news, ludhiana current news, ludhiana news live, Ludhiana breaking news, Ludhiana headlines, Ludhiana latest news, punjab news, india news, punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news,

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