ANDHRA PRADESH ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION

 

Extension of time limit for metering of all Agricultural services – U/S 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

 

 


    Proceedings No. Secy./ 03 / 2005                                                                                                                                              Dt: 27-06-2005

 

 

Order:

 

Whereas Section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003, prescribes that no Licensee shall supply electricity, after expiry of two years from the appointed date i.e. with effect from 10-06-2005, except through installation of a correct meter in accordance with the regulations to be made in this behalf by the Central Electricity Authority. 

 

2.         AND whereas 2nd proviso of Section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003, empowers the State Commission to extend the said period of two years for a class or classes of persons.

 

3.         AND whereas the SPDCL, NPDCL, EPDCL and CPDCL have stated that there are 21,24,851 un-metered agricultural services which were released without meters over the years and they have prepared metering plans to provide metering to all the un-metered agricultural services in a phased manner i.e., by 31-03-2009 in the case of SPDCL, EPDCL and CPDCL and by 31-03-2008 in the case of NPDCL and have accordingly requested for extension of time for supply through installation of correct meters to the existing un-metered agricultural consumers. 

 

4.         AND whereas the provision of metering involves a financial implication of about Rs. 400 crores in all and the logistics of procurement of meters and other associated equipment required for about 21.25 lakh connections and fixing the meters for these services located in the fields spread out in the entire area of operation of DISCOMs.

 

            Now therefore, the Commission considers it reasonable and necessary to extend the time limit as prescribed in the Electricity Act, 2003, to enable the procurement of such large number of meters and fixing them in the spread out locations. Accordingly, in exercise of powers vested under Section 55 of the Electricity Act, 2003, the Commission extends the period for the installation of correct meters to all the Agricultural connections in the DISCOMs up to 31-03-2008, after which date no DISCOM shall supply electricity, except through installation of a correct meter.

 

5.         The DISCOMs shall submit necessary investment proposals for approval for their metering plans for Agricultural connections, as per investment guidelines and as per the Licence conditions and complete the metering of un-metered services by the above date without fail.

 

(BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION)

 

S. SURYA PRAKASA RAO

SECRETARY