Gurgaon: Four years after Haryana Electricity Regulation Commission allowed residents of group housing societies to opt for direct electricity connections for individual flats, societies in the city continue to operate under a single-point electricity connection system. Under this system, the RWA or the maintenance agency distributes power to the flats, collects bills through sub-meters and acts as an intermediary between the consumer and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam.At present, residents of these societies pay Rs 7 to Rs 14 per unit for electricity while the tariff for direct domestic consumers is Rs 2 to Rs 7 per unit. The group housing society, however, has flat charges and this leads to inflated bill amounts as compared to direct customers.Why was the single-point system introduced?In 2013, HERC made single-point electricity connections mandatory for group housing complexes with 20 or more residential flats. The commission had cited operational difficulties faced by discom staff in accessing and recording readings from meters installed outside individual flats in large housing complexes. The discoms then issued a single connection to group housing societies and raised a consolidated bill for the society. Builders and RWAs distributed electricity to individual flats and recovered charges from residents.What problems emerged under the system?Over time, residents of group housing societies complained that they were being charged more than direct domestic consumers. While direct domestic consumers are billed according to govt-approved domestic tariff slabs, residents in many group housing societies reported paying significantly higher rates through the single-point arrangement. Complaints were also raised about arbitrary charges levied by builders and RWAs.What changed in 2022?Following complaints from residents, HERC amended its regulations in 2022 and gave occupants of group housing societies the option of shifting from a single-point to a multi-point system. The move was intended to provide consumers with greater choice and direct access to utility services.What is a multi-point connection?In a multi-point system, each flat receives a separate electricity meter from the discom and is billed directly by the utility. Residents deal directly with the discom for billing, complaints, load enhancement and other service-related issues.Common facilities such as lifts, pumps, clubhouses and street lighting are provided through separate connections maintained by the RWA.If residents have a choice now, why are societies not switching?The biggest hurdle is infrastructure. Most group housing societies were designed around a single-point electricity distribution network and do not have the meter rooms, cable shafts and wiring required for individual electricity connections. Converting to a multi-point system therefore involves significant expenditure.In addition, at least 51% of flat owners must support the transition. In many societies, residents remain divided over the costs and benefits of conversion.What are the advantages of a multi-point system?Residents receive bills directly from the discom, improving transparency and reducing disputes over electricity charges. Each household is billed independently and can avail itself of domestic tariff slabs and other subsidies applicable to direct consumers. Consumers also deal directly with the utility for complaints and service-related issues.What are the advantages of a single-point system?The system avoids costly infrastructure modifications in older housing projects. RWAs retain greater control over internal electricity distribution and maintenance of the network within the society.What do HERC rules currently say?For plotted colonies, individual electricity connections are the default arrangement and builders cannot compel residents to continue with a single-point system after handover.Residents of multi-storey group housing societies may choose either system. However, conversion from single-point to multi-point requires support from at least 51% of flat owners and compliance with discom infrastructure specifications.Has any Gurgaon society shifted to a multi-point system?No group housing society in Gurgaon has so far been able to complete the transition. The continuing prevalence of single-point connections in the city is therefore less a regulatory issue and more a result of infrastructure limitations, conversion costs and the challenge of securing consensus among residents. As electricity costs rise and consumers seek greater transparency, pressure for a shift towards multi-point connections is likely to grow.
