THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the recent KSEB decision to penalise consumers who deny meter readers access to electricity meters landing in a controversy, the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission is likely to opt for a public hearing before taking a final call on the issue.
“The commission will examine the issue and, if required, conduct a public hearing before issuing an order clarifying the situation. Otherwise, an order will be issued under the commission’s ‘power to remove difficulties’ provision which is intended to address difficulties faced by licensees or consumers. In that case a hearing will not be needed,’’ commission chairman T M Manoharan said on Monday. Any further step on this matter, however, is expected only after local body polls.
Following public outcry, the government has put on hold a KSEB decision to impose heavy fines for denying meter readers access for two billing cycles (a period of four months) in a row. According to a decision of the KSEB director board, single phase consumers were to be penalised Rs 250, three-phase meters Rs 500, HT consumers Rs 5000 and EHT consumers, Rs 10,000. Both the commission and KSEB say that the order basically targets nearly 10 lakh houses in the state which remain shut for long periods preventing meter readers from entering the premises. The commission’s new order, it is understood, will require such consumers to make advance payments on their bill amounts - a facility that is already available - to prevent inconvenience to both parties. On the other hand, taking note of the low public participation in its hearings, the commission plans to increase their number in future, Manoharan said. In the meter issue too, the commission had sought the public’s opinion before giving the KSEB the go-ahead.
The fact remains that public participation in regulatory commission hearings remain dismal despite wide publicity given through the media. In a bid to raise public awareness, the commission also plans to publish booklets in Malayalam on various rules and regulations such as the Kerala Electricity Supply Code, Manoharan said.