In a significant move, amendments to the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules have been introduced, allowing consumers to acquire distinct electricity connections exclusively for charging their electric vehicles. The revised rules also bring a reduction in the timeframe required for obtaining a new electricity connection.
As per the updated regulations, the waiting period for securing a new connection has been streamlined, decreasing from seven days to three days in metropolitan areas, from fifteen days to seven days in other municipal regions, and from thirty days to a mere fifteen days in rural locales.
Addressing concerns about meter readings not aligning with actual electricity consumption, the Power Ministry has mandated distribution licensees to install an additional meter within a five-day window upon receiving consumer complaints.
Union Power and New and Renewable Energy Minister RK Singh expressed confidence that these alterations would not only empower consumers but also expedite the process of acquiring new electricity connections. Singh emphasized that the updated rules aim to simplify the establishment of rooftop solar installations.
Under the revised regulations, an exemption has been granted regarding the necessity for a technical feasibility study for systems with a capacity of up to 10 kilowatts. For systems exceeding this capacity, the timeline for completing the feasibility study has been shortened from twenty days to fifteen days.
The rules further stipulate that distribution system strengthening required for rooftop solar PV systems up to a 5-kilowatt capacity will be undertaken by the distribution company at its own expense.
The Power Ministry underscored the introduction of provisions in the rules to enhance consumer choice and foster transparency in metering and billing. Residents in cooperative group housing societies, multi-storied buildings, and residential colonies are now granted the option to choose between individual connections for each unit or a consolidated single-point connection for the entire premises.