1) What is power reform?      2) What is restructuring?      
3) What is Private Sector Participation?             4) Who is an Electricity Consumer and who is supplier of power to him? 
5) How do I get a new connection/initial power supply?  
6) How can I get a temporary connection?         7) What do I do if there is no response of supplier with regard to new connection?             8) How much length of service line, I am to pay for?               9) What shall I do towards additions and alterations of my installation?        10) What is the procedure of enhancement of connected load or contract demand? 
11) Who will do electrical installations in my premises?
12) What amount do I have to pay for new connection?        13) How do I install a meter?         14) How much meter rent am I suppose to pay?             15) What happens if my meter becomes defective?        16) Who will take meter reading and how?          17) How much do I have to pay when I have no meter or have a defective meter?            18) When should I receive my bill?             19) Where do I pay my bill?
20) When and how do I pay my bill?              21) What are the rebates/penalties payable by me?             22) How can I avail payment by instalments?            23) What happens if I do not receive a bill?                24) Am I required to pay even if my bill is incorrect?         25) Who will address complaints regarding non receipt of my bill or discrepancy in by bill?      26) What is my action for a disputed bill?           27) Who will solve billing disputes, when and how?            28) What information should my bill contain?         29) When do I get disconnected and what are the reasons for getting disconnected?  What are the periods of advance notice before disconnection?   30) Can the licensee enter my premises?           31) How do I reconnected and what is the reconnection charges?     32) What is reclassification of consumer?           33) Whom should I contact if there is fear of safety in my electrical installations?           34) What happens if the power supply or fuse fails?          35) Am I entitled to notice for a power cut?  36) What is the maximum period of scheduled power cut?    37) What is the declared voltage I am entitled to?  
38) What is the allowed variation in voltage?              39) What do I do if  my voltage is low?            40) How is the agreement between the supplier and consumer terminated?    
41) How do I know about tariff/revision of tariff?        42) What charges other than charges for energy consumption do I have to pay the utility?           43) What kind of information am I entitled to?          44) How is the tariff decided?        45) What is an open public hearing?          46) How do I participate in the public hearing?             47) How do I initiate proceedings against the licensee in the Commission?          48) How will I find out about the decisions of the Commission?   
49) Where can I appeal against decisions of OERC?    
50) How can I redress my grievances with the licensee?

Ans.: Power Sector Reform Programme in Orissa is designed to transform the electricity industry from a state owned, state controlled, cash strapped monopolistic state electricity board into an efficient and viable electricity sector capable of attracting private investment and introducing elements of competition. The State Electricity Board has given way to separate companies and corporations to deal with generation, transmission and distribution. Orissa Electricity regulatory Commission has been established to issue licenses, to arbitrate disputes and to monitor performances so as to ensure safe and reliable power supply at reasonable cost.

Ans.: In order to bring in accountability and also advantages of core competence, there has been structural as well as functional unbending. Hydel generating stations of the state are now operating under a corporate entity called Orissa Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. (OHPC). Earlier, Ib Valley thermal Station had been transferred to another corporatised entity known as Orissa Power  Generation Corporation Ltd. TTPS was sold to NTPC to remain dedicated to the state. Transmission and Bulk Supply functions are managed by GRIDCO whereas Distribution and Supply activities have been entrusted to four independent companies called CESCO, WESCO, NESCO and SOUTHCO. Govt. of Orissa has entrusted regulation of power sector to Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission while retaining the power to issue policy directives only.
 

Ans.: AES Ib Valley Corporation Limited has purchased 49 % of shares of OPGC. The GRIDCO, which created four subsidiary companies WESCO, NESCO, CESCO and SOUTHCO to undertake distribution and retail supply for the whole of the state has divested 51 % of share in these companies to strategic investors who are required to bring in money, management and technology for better performance. While BSES Ltd. has acquired 51 % of the share of WESCO, NESCO and SOUTHCO with effect from 01.04.1999 a joint venture of AES Transpower and Jyoti Structures bought 51 % of share of CESCO with effect from 01.09.1999.

Ans.: Consumer means the end user or final user of electricity supplied by the Distribution and Retail Supply Licensee or by any other authorised person. Four Distribution and Retail Supply Licensees (i.e., CESCO, NESCO, WESCO and SOUTHCO) are suppliers of power in their respective areas of supply to their consumers.

Ans.: To get a new connection you must first apply in the prescribed form (available free of cost at any local office of the licensee) in duplicate with a deposit of Rs. 25.00 to your local office of the licensee. You must enclose evidence of ownership or occupation of the premises and its sketch map with the application form.

For a LT connection where distribution mains have been laid and power supply commenced you must apply 30 days in advance but where the connection needs extension of the distribution mains, you must apply 90 days in advance. It contract load exceeds 5 MW, apply 2 years in advance. An EHT connection requires to apply 2 years and 3 years in advance in case of contract load up to 10 MW and exceeding 10 MW respectively.

Within three days of receipt of your application for LT supply the supplier will send three clear days notice requesting you or your contractor to remain present during inspection of the premises and fixing of supply installations. The licensee shall respond to the application for HT within 60 days stating whether the connection is feasible or not and if feasible the voltage at which the supply can be given. For EHT connection, the Supplier forwards your application to the Transmission Licensee within 3 days for processing. The feasibility report will be prepared by the supplier and forwarded to the applicant within 60 days.

Estimate of the cost of carrying out the work along with the security deposit will be supplied to you within a period of one week of finalisation of point of entry of the supply mains and installation of cut-outs, circuits breakers and meters etc. You will also be supplied with the blank form of licensed contractors Completion and Test Report within one week in case of LT connection and within 60 days in HT or EHT connection after notifying feasibility of supply.

Within 3 days of depositing estimated cost of installation, the Supplier will issue orders for taking up the work. It the cost of service line is less the supplier refunds the balance amount to the consumer by adjusting in his electricity bill. You have to pay the excess amount within 15 days of demand if the cost of service line is more.

In a standard format (Forum -1) and agreement is executed between the supplier and you before commencement of power supply. For domestic and commercial consumers their application for power supply in the prescribed form (Form-2), if accepted, shall constitute the agreement. The duplicate copy of the application in Form-2 shall be handed over to you for your reference and record.

You have to deposit a security amount, which will be returned to you after adjustment of outstanding dues if any, on termination of agreement. You have to also submit completion report and test report of the licensed contractor.

After depositing security money within three days of submitting Completion Report and Test Certificate, the engineer of the Supply Company will give three clear days notice of his inspection date & time. You are to arrange your licensed contractor or his representative to be present during the inspection. The engineer shall complete inspection of your installation within a period of ten days from the date of receipt of he Test Report of your licensed contractor.

In case of connection in HT & EHT - you have to submit to the supplier. Manufacturers test certificate for all your HT/EHT apparatus. Test certificate and approval of HT/EHT installations of Electrical Inspector. The engineer shall notify you in writing of any defect noticed by him within seven days from the date of his inspection. If no intimation is received from him within seven days of inspection, the installation will be deemed to have been approved.

Within seven days of approval of your installation, the engineer shall commence supply of power to your installation under intimation to you.

Ans.: In order to get a temporary connection for commercial, domestic or public purpose you must apply in the prescribed format (Form-1 or Form-2 as applicable) to the concerned J.E. together with deposit of temporary connection charge at the rate applicable to the relevant consumer category.

Service lines for temporary connection shall be laid by the supplier where possible and the estimated cost for laying and removing such service lines together with estimated energy charge shall be paid by you in advance on demand by the supplier.

Ans.: If you have any grievance with regard to new connection -
 

* For Domestic/Commercial or other category of consumers having contract load up to 5 MW. connected.	You should file a written complaint with the SDO. If the grievance is not attended - to within 7 days, you can lodge complaint with the E.E.
* For loads more than 5 KW but less than 100 KVA.	You should file a written complaint with the E.E. If the grievance is not attended to within 7 days, you can lodge complaint with the S.E. concerned.
* For contract demands of 100 KVA up to 1000 KVA	You should file a written complain with the S.E. If within 7 days it is not attended, you can lodge the complaint to M.D.
* For contract demands above 1000 KVA	You should file a written complaint with the M.D.

Ans.: Up to a maximum of 30 meters from the nearest distribution mains will be supplied free by the Supplier.

The proportionate cost of service line, poles, fittings etc. If any in excess over the free lead of 30 meters shall be borne by you.

For temporary supply, the entire service line cost is to be borne by you along with the disconnection an dismantling cost.

Ans.: Addition or alteration of your earlier approved installation shall be made only by a licensed electrical contractor. In case such addition or alteration results in increase of your connected or contract load, prior approval of the supplier company shall be taken as per the procedure for enhancement of load. Approval of Electrical Inspector shall also be required wherever applicable.

Ans.: You have to apply to Engineer for enhancement of load or contract demand. Your application shall be accompanied by -
(a) Processing fee
(b) Test report of licensed contractor
(c) Approval of electrical Inspector if applicable.

If classification of consumer category by enhancement of contract demand, you have to execute fresh agreement subject to compliance of other conditions.

Ans.: A licensee contractor will carry out all installations within your premises. The responsibility for electrical installations inside your premises is yours.

Ans.: For a new connection, you have to pay estimated cost of installation and security deposit (which normally covers charges of two months power supply) in addition to the application fee of Rs. 25.00.

Ans.: No power supply should be effected without a correct meter. If the licensee installs the meter, the meter rent as fixed from time to time is to be charged in the energy bill. If you want to install your meter, no meter rent is payable. However, for this purpose you are to submit the test certificate along with the meter to the licensee whose duty is to install the same.

If you so desire, you can also install a check meter after prior notice to the licensee at your cost by the side of licensee's meter. However, the reading of licensees meter shall be taken as conclusive.

Ans.: Monthly meter rent shall be charged from you if the licensee has supplied the meter.

The existing meter rent with effect from 01.02.2000 is as follows:

* Single phase Electro-magnetic meter   - Rs. 15/- month
* Three phase Electro-magnetic meter    - Rs. 30/- month
* Single phase Static kWh meter           - Rs. 35/- month
* Three phase Static KWH meter           - Rs. 100/- month
 
 

* Three phase Static Trivector meter  * Three phase Electro Magnetic meter  * Railway Traction Trivector meter  * Three phase Static bisector meter

Rs. 800/- month

Ans.: Where the meter has been supplied by the licensee and the meter becomes defective in service, the engineer shall remove the meter after giving you seven days notice and test the same. If after testing the meter is found defective not due to tampering or deliberate damage, the defective meter shall be replaced by another tested meter without any charge to you within thirty working days from the date of removal of meter from your premises.

If the meter is found to be missing or after inspection or testing if the meter is found to have been tempered with or damaged the engineer may call upon you to deposit the cost of replacement within seven working days. The supplier shall install a tested meter within fifteen working days of deposit by you.

Where the meter has been installed by you at your own cost, as soon as you doubt the correctness of the meter, you should notify the engineer, who within 7 days from the date of intimation shall advise you after verification for test/repair or replacement. If you want your meter to be tested at the suppliers laboratory, you will have to deposit the fees prescribed by the supplier and the supplier is bound to get the test done within 115 days from the date of deposit. Loss or defect of meter (either noticed by you or notified by the supplier) must be replaced by you within 30 days. If you fail to do so, the supplier, after giving seven days notice will discontinue the power supply. A correct meter handed over by you to the supplier will have to be installed within 14 days by the supplier.

If you dispute the accuracy of any meter which is not your own property, you may, upon giving notice and paying the prescribed fee, have the same tested by the engineer within a period of one month from the date of deposit of such fee.

Due notice to you shall be served by the supplier to be present during the test. The supplier shall have the option to carry out and conclude the test in your absence after expiry of the notice period. If the meter is found to be incorrect after testing, fees paid by you shall be returned by way of adjustment in your next electric bill.

If the correctness of the meter supplied by either party is in dispute, either the supplier or you should apply to the electrical inspector for settlement. If the electrical inspector finds the meter to be incorrect, he will estimate the amount of energy supplied to you during the period not exceeding 6 months. His decision is binding on both the parties.

Ans.: Meter reading has to be carried out by the authorised representative of the supplier at an interval of two months or less. The meter reader must be allowed access to your premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of meter reading. Meter reading must be entered in the prescribed book in your presence and you or your representative must countersign the entry except where meters have been placed in ground floor for a group of apartments or a group of houses in a common area. It is mandatory on the part of ht supplier to issue laminated photo identity card to the meter reader, which would be shown to you on demand.

Ans.: If you are other than that of domestic commercial, small industry, irrigation pumping r agricultural consumer with a defective meter or lost meter, you billing for the period of defect or loss shall be done on the basis of average meter reading for the consecutive three billing period preceding the billing period in which the defect or loss was noticed;

However, if the meter becomes defective or is lost before expiry of three billing periods from the date of commencement of supply, the bill shall be prepared on the basis of average of readings of three consecutive billing periods after the meter is rectified or replaced.

If you are a commercial, small industry, irrigation pumping  and agriculture consumer with or a defective meter or lost meter the billing for the period the meter remained defective or lost shall be done on the basis of load factor.

For a domestic consumer -

If a working meter is reported as defective within three months of such defect being detected either by you or by the supplier, billing for the period shall be done based on the average of reading for the preceding three consecutive billing periods.

If the defect or loss of meters is not reported within three months of the defect, billing shall be done on the basis of load factor notified in the prevailing tariff for such cases.

Ans.: The engineer or his authorised agent is bound to despatch the bills within 10 days of the end of billing period. The normal billing period is once in every two months for domestic and commercial consumers.

Ans.: You may pay your bill at the local collection centre of the supplier on any working day during prescribed hour.

The supplier may, however, specify any specified collection centre for making payment for  a group of consumers.

Ans.: You may pay the billed amount either in cash or by bank draft or bankers cheque. However, you may pay by account payee cheque or credit cards where specifically allowed by the supplier.

The supplier will issue a receipt to you for the payment received.

You must pay the billed amount by due date indicated on the bill or within a period of seven days from the date of receiving the bill whichever is later.

If due date indicate in the bill for payment of he amount is a Sunday or public holiday, succeeding working day shall be treated as the due date.

Ans.: Payment of the billed amount within the prescribed due date entitles the specified category of consumer to a rebate. For prompt payment, rebate of 10 paise per unit is allowed if you are a LT consumer. If you are a consumer with two-part tariff a rebate of 1 percent is available for payments made within 2 weeks of the due date indicated in the bill. Every bill shall indicate the amount payable: if payment is made within the prescribed due date and if payment is made after due date.

Delayed payment surcharge at the rate of 2 percent per month will be prorated for the period of delay counted from the due date of payment indicated on the bill if you are an HT/EHT consumer.

Ans.: The supplier may grant facility of payment of bills by instalment to senior citizens and disabled persons in the domestic category on request and on production of proof. In respect of others, the facility may be granted only if the supplier is satisfied about the deserving nature of request for instalment.

Ans.: If you do not receive a bill within 60 days of commencement of supply, you must intimate the supply engineer of the area in writing. In case of continued supply you may do the same if no bill is provided within 15 days of meter reading or within two weeks of the end of the billing cycle.

Ans.: In case there is a dispute regarding the correctness of bill, you normally have to make the full payment of the bill within due date. However, if your connected load is 10 KW or less you may pay only the undisputed amount out of the billed amount before raising dispute.

Ans.: For non-receipt/erroneous bill -
 

* Of Domestic and Commercial	You should lodge the categories complaint with SDO/Asst. Manager (Commercial) of your area.
* All other categories	You should lodge complaint with the E.E. concerned.

If your above complaint is not resolved within two months you can make complaint to the next higher authorities i.e., E.E. and S.E. respectively.

Ans.: If your connected load is more than 10 KW and you dispute the correctness of the bill, you may raise a dispute before the above designated officers of he licensee within due date after making full payment of he billed amount.

If your connected load is 10 KW or less, you shall pay the undisputed amount before raising the dispute.

Ans.: The supplier should resolve the dispute within 2 months of lodging the complaint and take action in accordance with Regulation 92 of OERC Distribution Conditions of Supply Code.

Regulation 92 directs that if the supplier finds the bill erroneous, a revised bill indicating revised due date shall be furnished to you. Excess amount paid by you shall be refunded by way of adjustment with 2 % interest in the subsequent bill. But if the supplier ascertains the bill to be correct, this will be notified to you asking you to pay the balance, if any, with 2 % interest from the due date. If the supplier fails to resolve dispute within 2 months, you need not pay the interest on the balance amount.

Ans.: A bill should contain information about:

Billing period, Name of the Division/Sub Division/Section, Consumer No., Connected Load (KW), Category, Basis of billing, Name and Address of the consumer, Bill date, Due date, Bill No., Meter Sl. No., Supply  Voltage, Status of meter, Meter Readings at the beginning & end of billing cycle, units advanced, Billing details (customer charge, minimum Fixed Charge, Energy Charge, Electricity Duty (ED), Meter Rent, Rebate, Arrear Energy Charge, Arrear E.D, Arrear Miscellaneous Charges, Delayed Payment Surcharge, Amount payable within due date, Amount payable after due date, Money Receipt No./Date of last payment etc.).

The following information is printed on the reverse of the bill:

Current tariff rate and other charges applicable/collection centres/mode of payment/designation and address of authority with whom the complaint and grievances shall be lodged in case of cheques and bank draft, the receiving authority in whose favour amount should be drawn and additional information with respect to consumers covered under two part tariff.

Ans.: Given below are the various reasons of disconnection, where you shall be provided with the following minimum period of notice:-

(i) 24 hours notice before disconnection on ground of refusal to allow entry to the premises or refusal to allow the licensee of his authorised representative to perform any authorised act as per section 20(3) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910;

(ii) 48 hours notice before disconnection;

a) When the insulation resistance at your installation is so low as to prevent safe use of energy as per rule 49 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

b) When you fail to rectify the defects pointed out by the Electrical Inspector as per Rule 46(2)(c) of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956.

(iii) Seven clear days notice before disconnection:

a) When you neglect to pay any charge for energy or any sum other than a charge for energy due from you to the licensee in respect of supply of energy as per Section 24 of Indian Electricity Act, 1910;

b) When there is default in keeping the meter correct where meter is your property as per Section 26(3) of Indian Electricity Act, 1910;

c) When you fail to pay the inspection fees on or before the date specified in the fee notice of the Electricity Inspector as per Rule 46(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Rule, 1956;

d) When the meter or metering equipment is found tampered or when the replacement of obsolete or defective meter by the supplier is resisted by you;

e) When you adopt any electrical appliances or use energy supplied to you unduly or improperly which interferes with the system or efficient working of suppliers system or to the supply of energy to any other person (Annexure VI of Rule 27 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956);

f) When you fail to rectify defects relating to non-observance of Rules 50, 51(I) or 64 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956, pointed out by the supplier within the time and the procedure prescribed under Rule 51(4) of the said Rules;

g) When the power factor of your load is less than 60 percent;

h) When you fail to execute agreement under appropriate category as per the notice of he supplier on the basis of your altered classification or modified contract demand;

i) When you unauthorisedly assign the benefits under the agreement in favour of another, or resell or divert or transfer the same or commit unauthorised abstraction of power.

(iv) Such other period of notice before disconnection when such disconnection is provided under any law, the notice period shall be as prescribed in the said law.

NOTE -

(A) The supplier may be exempted from the notice requirements of this Regulation where your installation poses a danger to the health or safety of you or suppliers employees or the public.

(B) Wherever you supply of electricity has been disconnected without prior notice the supplier shall inform you in writing within twenty four hours of such disconnection.

Ans.: The licensee can enter into your premises for any of he following purposes.

(1) To check

- Unauthorised addition and alteration of equipment,
- Theft and misappropriation of energy,
- Diversion of power,
- By passing of meter for consumption of electricity.

(2) To carry out

- Verification of the electricity installation
- General inspection
- Testing
- Meter reading

But the engineer or his staff authorised by him shall be entitled to enter your premises after informing you. If you refuse to allow access or obstruct, the engineer shall, without prejudice to other modes of action available in law, disconnect the supply of power in accordance with Section 20 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910.

Ans.: You have to pay all the charges and dues payable to the supplier along with reconnection charges.

If you are a single phase domestic consumer prevailing reconnection charges are Rs. 30/- for other single phase consumers it is Rs. 50/- for three phase line it is Rs. 100/- and for  HT & EHT line is Rs. 500/-.

Ans.: It is found that a consumer has been classified in a particular category erroneously or the purpose of supply as mentioned in the agreement has changed or the consumption of power has exceeded the limit of that category or any order of reduction or enhancement or contract demand has been obtained, the engineer my reclassify him under appropriate category after issuing notice to him. While issuing notice the licensee is required to specifically inform if a fresh agreement on the basis of the altered classification or modified contract demand has to be executed. If the consumer does not take steps within the time indicated in the notice to execute the fresh agreement, the engineer may, after issuing a clear seven days show cause notice and after considering his explanation, if any may disconnect the supply of power.

Ans.: The Electrical Inspector checks and certifies all electrical HT and EHT installations. In case of fear of safety of your installations, you have to immediately contact the nearest fuse call centre and you may take the help of any licensed electrical contractor to rectify the fault.

Ans.: If your power supply fails, you may contact the fuse call centre of your area. The supplier within 4 hours of inquiry must intimate you regarding the likely time of restoration of supply. Within 24 hours of receipt of the complaint, he must restore power supply, except in case of transformer failure and failure of 11 KV feeder including terminal equipment. In that case, the maximum period for restoration is 7 days.

Ans.: Period of scheduled power cut must be notified through local  dailies or public address system 24 hours prior to any planned outage exceeding thirty minutes.

Ans.: A scheduled power cut must not exceed 12 hours on any day and in such an event power should be restored by 6 PM during summer and 5 PM during winter.

Ans.: The declared voltage at LT (single phase) is 230 volts and medium voltage for 2 or 3 phase is 400 volts. High Tension supply is 11 KV, 33 KV in 3 phase and 25 KV in single phase for existing Railway Traction. Extra High Tension supply is in three phase at 66 KV, 132 KV, 220 KV or 400 KV. It is also 220 KV/132 KV at two phase for existing Railway Traction.

Ans.: The supplier not allow voltage at the point of commencement of supply to go beyond 6 percent in case of low or medium voltage. In case of high tension it should not be more than 6 percent on the higher side and 9 percent on the lower side. In case of Extra High Tension it should not be more than 10 % on higher side or by 12.5 % on the lower side.

Ans.: For low voltage problem you can lodge your complaint in writing or over telephone with details in the local fuse call centre (FCC). The supplier shall intimate a complaint number to you after registering the complaint. FCC has to respond to your complaint within 4 hours. If it is not done, complaint can be lodged with the SDO in writing in prescribed format. The receipt of the complaint shall be acknowledged by the SDO who shall resolve the complaint within 15 days in case of local problem and 6 months in case of major problem like deficiency in the system requiring upgradation of distribution lines, transformers or installation of capacitors.

Ans.: If the power supply of a consumer remains disconnected for a period of two months for non payment of charges or dues or non compliance of any direction issued under the OERC Distribution (Conditions of Supply) Code and the consumer does not take any step to remove the cause, the agreement of he consumer with the supplier shall be deemed to be terminated, without notice. On termination of the agreement, the supplier can remove the service line and other appliances for supply of power from the premises of the consumer.

The supplier will intimate the consumer about the disconnection within 7 days from the date of disconnection.

Ans.: Any revision to tariff will come into force seven days after it is notified in local newspaper. Licensee is obliged to notify tariff in its office dealing with billing and collection and to supply you a copy on payment of fee. You may obtain copies of the tariff orders from the Commission by applying in the prescribed format and depositing prescribed fee for photocopying the document.

Ans.: Apart from energy charge, you will have to pay a customer charge, Electricity duty, Meter rent and demand charge (to be calculated on recorded maximum demand or 80 % of contract demand for consumers under two part tariff).

Ans.: The supplier shall make "Consumer Rights Statement", "Code of Practice on Payment of Bills", "Complaint Handling Procedure" available for inspection by members of the public at his Head Office, Divisional Office, Sub-Divisional and Sectional Offices and be displayed. The supplier shall provide a copy of these documents to any person who requests on payment of reasonable charge and to new consumers free of charges. The supplier shall display a copy of the "Consumer Rights Statement" in a conspicuous place of each Bill Collection Centre. All orders of he Commission including license, tariff, etc. will be notified by the licensee and made available on demand. Copies of OERC Distribution (Conditions of Supply) Code 1998, Right to Information and Standards of Performance Regulation and all other technical and service codes must be made available by the  supplier to the consumer on demand at a reasonable price.

Ans.: Tariff and charges are determined by the Commission only after an open public hearing on licensees application together with objections by various parties. Further, the Commissions Tariff Department analysis all aspects before and after the hearing and consultations are made with the Commission Advisory Committee before finalisation. Revision in tariff is allowed only to the extent of gap between the licensees reasonable revenue requirement and aggregate revenue available under existing tariff.

Ans.: All matters, which the Commission is required under the Orissa Electricity Reform Act, 1995 to undertake and discharge through hearing of the affected parties is done through proceedings. The Proceedings before the Commission are open to public subject to availability of sitting accommodation in the Hearing Hall. Any affected person can participate in the proceeding after observing the formalities prescribed by the Commission.

Ans.: In the matter tariff setting, issue of license, power purchase agreement and other important issues, Commission invites objections from the public through public notice published in various newspapers. Any person can file his objection/opinion before the Commission as prescribed under the said public notices. If any person/interested party has any stake in any ongoing proceeding, he may intervene as an intervenor with the prior permission of the Commission.

Ans.: A proceeding against the licensee can be initiated by filling a formal application before the Commission. The application verified by an affidavit has to be filed along with five additional copies. Each set of application shall be completed in all respects. An application may be presented in person or by duly authorised agent or representative/attorney. Application may be sent by registered post with acknowledgement due.

Ans.: Records of every proceeding shall be open as of right, to the inspection of he parties or their authorised representative at any time either during the proceeding of after the orders are passed, subject to payment of fee and complying with other terms the Commission may direct.

Records of every proceeding, except those parts which are specified by the Commission as confidential or privileged shall be open to inspection by you or any person other than the parties to the petition, either during the proceeding or after the orders have been passed. This is however, subject to your complying with such terms as the Commission may direct from time to time with regard to time, place and manner of inspection and payment of fees.

You are entitled to obtain certified copies of the orders of the Commission as well as the pleadings, papers and other parts of the records of the Commission to which you are entitled subject to payment of fee and after complying with other terms which the Commission may set.

All final orders of the Commission shall be communicated to the parties in the proceeding under signature of Secretary/Authorised Officer.

Ans.: Any person by any decision or order of the Commission passed under Orissa Electricity Reform Act may file an appeal to the High Court on any question of law arising out of such order within sixty days from the date of communication to him of the decision or order of the Commission.

Ans.: If you are aggrieved by any action or inaction of the Engineer, you can file representation to his higher officer within one year and order shall be passed within 30 days of receipt of the representation.

If you are aggrieved by any order passed on your representation, you can file further representation within 45 days to the Chief Executive Officer of the supplier company who shall pass final order on that representation within 45 days.

If the Designated Authority or Chief Executive of supplier does not respond to your complaint effectively within 45 days or you are not satisfied with the action taken by the Supplier, you may approach the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission at Bidyut Niyamak Bhawan, Unit-VIII, Bhubaneswar - 751012 in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Practice Direction of the Commission on grievance redressal.