Accountability of MD to be decided on negligence in consumer services: Power Minister, UP

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State’s Power Minister reviewed districts under Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam

Lucknow, 24 December: Uttar Pradesh Power Minister Shrikant Sharma on Thursday reviewed a meeting of the districts those come under Madhyanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (MVVNL) and asked engineers to improve consumer services including supply, preparations to make these districts tripping free in the summer, timely tube-well connections to farmers, providing accurate and timely downloadable bills to consumers.

The Power Minister said that MD should ensure that all the districts of MVVNL including Lucknow are tripping-free and said that where line loss is less than 15 percent, 24-hour supply will be ensured.

Sharma instructed that MD must monitor effectively from his level for uninterrupted supply. It should be noted that there has been any problem related to supply anywhere in the previous summer, so that all preparations should be made by February, so that there is no problem in the upcoming summer.

He directed that the government is working on the policy of ‘Upbhokta Devo Bhava’. The consumer’s problem is the government’s problem; the consumer’s satisfaction is the government’s satisfaction. All officers and MDs should ensure that any negligence in consumer services is not acceptable. Accountability will be ensured on such cases.

Expressing displeasure over the complaints about incorrect billing, he said that by January 31, MDs should ensure in all districts that 100% downloadable billing is ensured. It is the responsibility of distribution companies (DISCOMs) to get the right bills to consumers.

It said that DISCOMs owed more than Rs 13 thousand crore to consumers.

He appealed to consumers to pay bills at all times for cheap and uninterrupted electricity and directed to investigate societies on temporary connection for years in the interest of consumers. There should not be any kind of messing with the safety of consumers. Also take action against those who misuse consumer facilities.

The Power Minister said that the registration of all consumers by January 31 2021 should be ensured for 100 percent surcharge waiver being given to commercial, industrial and private institutions under the Covid-19 Lump Sum Solution Scheme. The Managing Director should also ensure that all the outstanding dues are deposited in instalments by February 28 2021.

Sharma pointed out to ensure uninterrupted power supply in villages from sunset to sunrise. Also, the pendency of tubewell connection applications under the farmers’ full deposit scheme should also be eliminated in a week.

The Power Minister said that the Managing Director and Director of DISCOM should go out in the field, go for monitoring the sub-stations. All nodal officers must carry out physical inspection of the sub-centers under them. Consumer complaints at the sub-stations should be resolved in a timely manner; nothing will be accepted in this regard.

Superintendent Engineer and Zonal Chief Engineer of all the districts were present in the review meeting.