It is learnt that the State government will reportedly have to compensate electricity consumers in the State within 90 days by adjusting their power bills if it fails to meet specified performance standards in power distribution as specified by Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) regulations. As per the new regulations, consumers can claim compensation for power supply failures each lasting longer than three minutes, delays in billing, resolving billing complaints, addressing meter issues, restoring power after faults, managing voltage fluctuations, and fixing distribution network problems. The payment of compensation shall be made to the affected consumers as per the rates specified under Schedule III of the regulations. This seems like good tidings for Goa’s power consumers irked by frequent disruption of power supply. There is a 3.5 per cent increase in power tariff which will be an unjust financial burden on residents of the state. There needs to be a roll back on power tariff hike. It is learnt that the owner of a house in Pernem was fined Rs. 6.5 lakhs for illegally tapping electricity. The government needs to show zero tolerance towards power theft and recover outstanding dues.
