Chandigarh: Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL) will now have to adhere to fixed timelines for a range of electricity-related services, from restoring power after faults to resolving billing and meter complaints, under a fresh Chandigarh administration notification issued under the Punjab Right to Service Act.The notification, published in the Chandigarh administration Gazette on August 19, supersedes the earlier notification issued in March 2022 and specifies designated officers and appellate authorities for 24 electricity-related services provided by CPDL.Under the new norms, a blown fuse will have to be rectified within four hours in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas. A broken service line or line snapped from a pole must be restored within six hours in urban areas and 12 hours in rural areas. Faults in LT main distribution lines have to be rectified and normal supply restored within 12 hours, while temporary supply from an alternate source has to be restored within four hours.For HT mains failures, CPDL has been given 12 hours to rectify the fault, with temporary restoration required within four hours. Breakdowns of underground cables have to be rectified within 24 hours after obtaining the necessary clearance, while temporary restoration of supply has to be completed within four days.Transformer failuresIn case of a failed or burnt distribution transformer, replacement has to be completed within 24 hours in urban areas and 48 hours in rural areas. Where immediate replacement is not possible, temporary supply through a mobile transformer or another backup source has to be arranged within eight hours in urban areas and 12 hours in rural areas.For problems involving 33/66/220 KV grid substations, repair and restoration of supply has to be completed within 48 hours, while supply from an alternate source has to be restored within six hours. In the event of a power transformer failure, CPDL has to intimate the rectification action plan to the commission within 72 hours, with completion within the timeframe approved by the commission.The notification also puts a restriction on scheduled outages. Consumers must be informed at least 24 hours in advance and such interruptions, other than load-shedding, cannot exceed 12 hours in a day.Consumer complaints get fixed deadlinesConsumers will also get specified timelines for complaints related to voltage, meters and billing. A voltage fluctuation complaint involving a local transformer problem has to be addressed within three days. Other voltage complaints have to be resolved within 15 days for LT systems and 30 days for HT systems where no network expansion or enhancement is required. Where distribution system upgradation is necessary, the timeline is 180 days.Complaints regarding meter accuracy have to be taken up within 30 days, with the meter to be checked and, if required, replaced within 15 days. Complaints concerning defective or stuck meters have to be addressed within 15 days, with replacement, if required, within another 15 days. For burnt meters, supply has to be restored within six hours after the complaint, while a new meter has to be provided within 15 days.Consumers seeking a change of name following a change in ownership or occupancy, or transfer of the connection to a legal heir, will have a stipulated period of 60 days. Load reduction has to be processed within 30 days, change of category within 10 days and shifting of a meter or service line within the prescribed period after assessment and payment.Billing complaints have to be resolved within seven days, while requests for reconnection have a five-day timeline in cases where reconnection is sought within six months of disconnection. A consumer seeking a special meter reading and bill update has also been given a seven-day timeline.New connections and load enhancementFor new connections, separate timelines have been prescribed depending on whether extension of distribution mains is required and whether the premises are in an urban or rural area. Where no extension is required, the stipulated period is 16 days in urban areas and 24 days in rural areas, with separate timelines for demand notes and meter installation. Where network extension is required, the timelines vary from 30 to 180 days in urban areas and 45 to 180 days in rural areas, depending on whether the connection is LT, HT or EHT.Load enhancement has been assigned a 30-day timeline.The notification makes clear that these timelines will begin only after an application is submitted with all requisite documents and papers, complete and correct in all respects. The head of CPDL or his nominee has been designated as the nodal officer for implementation of the Right to Service provisions.
