Section 7 in Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Standards of Performance of Distribution Licensees, Period for Giving Supply and Determination of Compensation) Regulations, 2014
7. Metering.
- 7.1 The Distribution Licensee shall perform the following meter related activities in accordance with the MERC (Electricity Supply Code and other Conditions of Supply) Regulations, 2005 including any amendment thereto, in force from time to time and also in accordance with other allied Regulations and codes. The Distribution Licensee shall maintain the Meter reading records to note down the periodical readings, the checking of meter and the changes if any. The copy of such records shall be made available to the consumer on demand and a duly attested copy of such records shall be given to the consumer.Provided that the consumer requests for such record within Six (6) months of the activity.7.2The Distribution Licensee shall carry out the reading of consumers meter at least once in every three months in case of agricultural consumers and at least once in every two months for all other consumers.Provided that in case, for any reason, the Distribution Licensee fails to carry out the meter reading during a billing cycle, the Distribution Licensee shall prepare and provide a provisional bill to the consumer, based on the average consumption of last three billing cycles wherein the meter readings were carried out.Provided further that normally provisional billing shall not continue for more than two billing cycles at a stretch. The amount paid as per the provisional bill shall be adjusted against the bill raised on the basis of actual meter reading during subsequent billing cycles.7.3The Distribution Licensee shall carry out an inspection for faulty/non working (stuck up, running slow/fast or creeping) meter within four (4) days of the receipt of a complaint in Class-I cities, within seven (7) days of the receipt of a complaint in Urban Areas and within twelve (12) days of the receipt of a complaint in Rural Areas and in case the meter is found faulty the same shall be replaced before the end of subsequent billing cycle.7.4The Distribution Licensee shall replace at its own cost the burnt out meters within the timeline specified herein in Regulation 6.5, if the burning of meter is due to the causes attributable to the Distribution Licensee.Provided that, if the meter is burnt due to causes attributable to the consumer such as tampering, defect in consumer's installation, meter getting wet, connecting unauthorized additional load etc., the Distribution Licensee shall serve a notice to the consumer for recovery of cost of the meter mentioning the cause behind the damage of meter within seven (7) days of the detection thereof and shall replace the burnt meter within timeline specified herein in Regulation 6.5.Provided that such charges recovered for such meter (same as burnt meter) shall be remitted back to the consumer if competent authority doesn't find the consumer responsible for the burnt meter.Complaints about Consumer's Bills7.5The Distribution Licensee shall acknowledge a consumer's complaint with immediate effect by providing unique complaint number, if the complaint is filed/lodged in person or telephonically and within seven (7) days if the complaint is received by post.7.6The Distribution Licensee shall resolve consumer complaints with regard to non receipt of a bill for payment or inadequate time being made available for payment thereof or otherwise, within 24 hours of the receipt. In other cases, the complaint shall be resolved during subsequent billing cycle.Provided that, if a disconnected consumer makes a request for details of amount due from him, including details for reconnection and other charges if any, it shall be provided as per the same timeline specified for complaint in this Regulation.
