(a) whether the Government proposes to bring any law to check the arbitrariness of power distribution companies;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the amount of penalty to be levied from power distribution companies for power cuts without prior information and schedule; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to increase the amount of penalty to be levied for power cuts without prior information and schedule, if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND
NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY
( SHRI R. K. SINGH )
(a) to (d) : Government had introduced the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in the Parliament proposing amendments to the Electricity Act 2003. This was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy. Based on the recommendation of Standing Committee as well as other aspects which have come to the notice of the Government further amendments to Electricity (Amendment) Bill are under finalization. At present there is sufficient power generation capacity available in the country. A robust national grid has been put in place to enable transmission of power across the country. Government of India is also supporting the States in augmenting and strengthening of the intra state transmission and distribution network through various scheme including Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). Therefore, there is no reason why 24x7 power cannot be supplied to the consumers by the various distribution companies. Therefore, Government of India proposes to provide for stiff penalties in case there is gratuitous load shedding in the amendment under consideration. However, there will be no penalties in case of disruption of supplies because of technical faults/ breakdowns or natural calamities etc.
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