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TMI Blog2007 (8) TMI 821X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... de the orders passed by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (hereinafter for short The Commission ) dated 23.2.2005. The Commission on 3.8.2004 addressed a notice to all its licensees/distribution companies in Maharashtra and made an inquiry from them with regard to raising of the bills by the said licensees/distribution companies on the basis other than the actual meter reading for the relevant period, when large variations in consumption were noticed, or for other reasons. The notice dated 3.8.2004 sent by the Commission to all its licensees/distribution companies reads as under: Several instances have come to the Commission's notice of so- called amendment , supplementary or other such bills being raised by some licensees to consumers, often several years later, on a basis other than the actual meter reading for the relevant period, when large variations in consumption are noticed, or for other reasons. Computerised systems have sometimes been put in place which generate such bills automatically. Wide variations observed in recorded consumption and other such apparent anomalies may be useful for monitoring, checking/testing of meters and for taking co ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ted to the consumer), the bills may be adjusted for upto 3 months prior to the date of testing or meter replacement, whichever is earlier, and any amounts recovered in excess refunded without interest (in the case of 'stopped' meters, the analogy of the Supply Code provisions should be applied for assessment); d. the above action should be completed by 30th May, 2005, so as to give the licensees more than 3 months' time in view of the work likely to be involved; e. compliance should be submitted on affidavit by 15th June, 2005, with a list of consumers involved, and certifying that no further action remains to be done in terms of this Order. By another order dated 23.8.2005 in the case of M/s. Prayas (Energy Group) Pune, the Commission in para 45 directed as under: 45. Considering the foregoing, the Commission disposes of Prayas' petition with the following directions, which would apply for the period from 1st June, 2004 (i.e. around 3 months after the detailed Tariff Order dated 10th March, 2004, up-till 19th January, 2005 (following which the Supply code Regulations were notified): (a) no billing using past consumption or some related 'average&# ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... the Commission was competent to issue the aforesaid direction. As against this, the learned Counsel appearing for the respondent-licensees/distribution companies submitted that the Commission has no power to issue a direction like the one issued in the present case and entertain individual complaints and direct refund of the whole amount by a blanket order. 8. The question before us is : what is the power of the Commission and to what extent the Commission can issue directions. Suffice it to say that the Regulatory Commission was constituted under the Electricity Act, 2003. The Act was a new enactment which was promulgated by superseding the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 and the Electricity Supply Act, 1948. The Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Act which have been summarized in the Preamble, reads as under: An Act to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking measures conducive to development of electricity industry, promoting competition therein, protecting interest of consumers and supply of electricity to all areas, rationalisation of electricity tariff, ensuring transparent policie ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... by the said name, sue or be sued. (3) The head office of the State Commission shall be at such place as the State Government may, by notification, specify. (4) The State Commission shall consist of not more than three Members, including the Chairperson. (5) The Chairperson and Members of the State Commission shall be appointed by the State Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee referred to in Section 85. 9. We are not concerned with the provisions of appointment of Members of the Commission as they are dealt with by Sections 84 and 85 of the Act. Section 86 deals with the functions of the Commission and is relevant for our purposes. For ready reference, the same is reproduced hereunder. 86. Functions of State Commission:- (1) The State Commission shall discharge the following functions, namely: (a) determine the tariff for generation, supply, transmission and wheeling of electricity, wholesale, bulk or retail, as the case may be, within the State: Provided that where open access has been permitted to a category of consumers under section 42, the State Commission shall determine only the wheeling charges and surcharge thereon, if any, for the ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ission is to determine tariff for generation, supply, transmission of electricity etc. and to regulate the electricity purchase and procurement process of distribution licensees, to facilitate intra-State transmission, to promote cogeneration and generation of electricity from renewable sources of energy, to adjudicate upon the disputes between the licensees and generation companies and to refer any dispute for arbitration, to levy fee for the purposes of this Act, specify State Grade Code consistent with the Grid Code specified under Clause (h) of Sub-section (1) of Section 79. Sub-section (2) of Section 86 also empowers the State Commission to advise the State Government on any of the matters including promotion of competition, efficiency, matters concerning generation, transmission, distribution and trading of electricity etc. Sub-Section (3) provides that the Commission shall ensure transparency while exercising its powers and discharging its functions. Sub-section (4) provides that in discharge of its functions the Commission shall be guided by the National Electricity Policy, National Electricity Plan and Tariff Policy published under Section 3. 11. We are not going into o ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... y the Commission and Section 143 empowers the Commission to adjudicate after holding an inquiry in such manner as may be prescribed by the Government. Section 181 empowers the Commission to make regulations. 14. A comprehensive reading of all these provisions leaves no manner of doubt that the Commission is empowered with all powers right from granting licence and laying down the conditions of licence and to frame regulations and to see that the same are properly enforced and also power to enforce the conditions of licence under Sub-section (6) of Section 128. 15. Thus, insofar as the first contention of the learned Counsel for the respondents that the Commission has no power is concerned, we are of the view that the same is wrong. In this behalf the provisions of The Electricity Act, 2003 are quite clear and categoric and Section 128(6) empowers the Commission to get the conditions of licence enforced. But the question is whether the said power under Section 128(6) has been rightly exercised by the Commission or not. After clearing the first hurdle, that the Commission has power to issue directions, we shall now examine whether the direction given by the Commission in the pr ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ion whether the issue of supplementary/amended bills was really warranted in every case or not is unsustainable. Here the Commission has gone beyond its jurisdiction. After all the distribution/generating companies have to incur expenses for generation/distribution of power, and we cannot at the same time give license to the consumers to commit theft of electricity or to be benefited by improper functioning of the meter to the disadvantage of the distribution/generating company. Thus, keeping in view the equity of both the parties, we think it will be proper for us to direct that all the licensees/distribution companies in the State of Maharashtra issue a general public notice in two daily newspapers having wide circulation in the State, one English newspaper and one in vernacular language. The notice shall state that whoever feels aggrieved by the supplementary/amended bill, he/she can approach the licensee/distribution company for redressal of their grievance within a period of three months from the date of publication of the notice. In our view, that would meet the ends of justice instead of passing a blanket order as given by the Commission for refunding the money charged by th ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ppeal No. 191/2005 and the order dated 2nd June, 2006 passed by the Appellate Tribunal in Review Petition No. 3/2006 and I.A. No. 60/2006. 22. It is not necessary for us to go into the detailed facts. Suffice it to say that the respondent company approached the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (hereinafter for short referred to as the Commission ) with the grievance that a demand notice dated 26.8.2002 issued by the Appellant's Wardha office be declared as illegal and may be set aside and quashed and the respondent company be permitted to avail power supply to the limit of 90 MVA 4 without recovery of any additional charge either on account of service connection charges or the service line charges and to further direct the appellant herein to refund the amount of Rs. 227.9 lakhs so collected for re-instatement of the contract demand to the original level of 90 MVA along with interest @ 12% from the date of payment till the date of refund. The respondent company was a consumer of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board and originally they had a connection of 90 MVA which was subsequently reduced to 80 MVA and finally to 56 MVA on a request made by the company. T ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... ng this question, the relevant provision is Section 42(5) of the Act, which reads as under: 42. Duties of distribution licensees and open access.- (1) X X X (2) X X X (3) X X X (4) X X X (5) Every distribution licensee shall, within six months from the appointed date or date of grant of licence, whichever is earlier, establish a forum for redressal of grievances of the consumers in accordance with the guidelines as may be specified by the State Commission. 27. As per the aforesaid provision, if any grievance is made by a consumer, then they have a remedy under Section 42(5) of the Act and according to Sub-section (5) every distribution licensee has to appoint a forum for redressal of grievances of the consumers. In exercise of this power the State has already framed. The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) Regulations, 2003 (hereinafter referred to as 2003 Regulations ) and created Consumer Grievance Redressal forum and Ombudsman. Under these 2003 Regulations a proper forum for redressal of the grievances of individual consumers has been created by the Commission. Therefore, now by virtue of Sub-sect ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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