​UPERC slaps penalty on UPPCL over delayed power restoration

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has imposed a penalty of Rs 7.18 lakh on Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL), after it took suo motu cognisance of reports that the connections of more than 1.93 lakh prepaid smart meter consumers were disconnected for over two hours even as their prepaid accounts showed a positive balance.The order follows an examination of data related to reconnection timelines between March 13 and April 10, during which consumers experienced temporary power disruptions. On April 22, TOI had reported about the power outage caused by smart metering system.According to information submitted before the regulatory body by UPPCL, electricity supply to more than 40.27 lakh prepaid consumer households was disconnected during the period because of insufficient balance in their prepaid accounts.Of these, around 24.14 lakh consumers recharged their accounts and became eligible for reconnection. It was revealed that power supply was restored within 30 minutes for 18.78 lakh consumers, accounting for nearly 78% of reconnections. Power supply of 22.21 lakh consumers was restored within the two-hour period prescribed under the regulations, representing about 92% of cases.However, around 8% of consumers – 1.93 lakh connections, had to wait for more than two hours after recharge for restoration of supply.The Commission noted that under the UPERC Standards of Performance Regulations, 2019, electricity supply to prepaid consumers should be restored within two hours of recharge, and distribution licencees are required to meet this standard in at least 95% of cases.The commission observed that the required benchmark was not achieved on several days between March 13 and April 10.UPPCL argued that the smart prepaid metering programme was in a transition and stabilization phase.After examining the submissions, UPERC rejected these explanations and held that smart meter installations under the RDSS programme had already achieved operational status.The commission said, “Recurring delays could not be treated as temporary failures and that consumers should not face prolonged outages after making payments.”It observed that delayed reconnections cause inconvenience and distress to consumers and undermine confidence in the electricity distribution system.Consequently, the commission imposed a penalty of Rs 7.18 lakh for violations recorded across 10 days when the prescribed standard was not met.The order also directed UPPCL to undertake a root cause analysis and implement corrective measures.Member of UPERC’s Supply Code Review Panel sub-committee and chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP), Avadhesh Kumar Verma described the action as the highest penalty imposed by any regulatory authority on a power corporation.​