Section 3 in Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (Grievances Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) Regulations, 2004
3. Constitution of the Forum for redressal of grievances of the consumers.
(1)Every existing Licensee, including the Deemed Licensee shall not later than two months from the date of publication of these Regulations and any new Licensee within six months from the grant of Distribution Licensee, establish a Forum (GRF) for redressal of grievances of the consumers in accordance with these Regulations.(2)The Forum shall consist of two members (excluding co-opting member) to be appointed by the Distribution Licensee with the following composition:(a)A serving officer of the Licensee or a retired person to be designated by the Licensee possessing a degree in electrical engineering and having at least 20 years experience in the distribution of electricity and having served not below the rank of Superintending Engineer; and(b)A serving officer of the Licensee or a retired person to be designated by the Licensee possessing a degree in finance or accountancy or law and having at least 5 years of experience in the electricity sector and having served as an officer in an electricity utility.(3)(a)The members of the Forum shall be appointed for a period of three years.(b)The senior most member shall act as the President of the Forum.(4)A member (including a co-opted member) of the Forum shall not be replaced by the Licensee during the tenure of three years, except with the prior approval of the Commission.(5)Notwithstanding anything contained in Clauses (3) and (4) above, the Commission may at any time direct the Licensee to substitute a member (including co-opted member) of the Forum with another person, as per the composition and qualification provided in Clause (2) above, if in the opinion of the Commission such substitution is necessary for the proper discharge of the functions of the Forum.(6)The Licensee shall associate a representative from the members of the State Advisory Committee constituted under Section 87 or from the members of the District Committee constituted under Section 166(5) of the Act or from any consumer organisation duly recognised by the Commission, as a co-opted member of the Forum. The co-opted members shall have access to all the complaints received and the associated records and shall also have the right to participate in the deliberations, meetings and proceedings of the Forum that may be held to deal with the complaint.(7)The co-opted member of the Forum under Clause (6) shall ordinarily hold office for a period of three years from the date of his co-option. He shall not continue to be a member of the Forum when his membership in the State Advisory Committee/District Co-ordination Committee or the organisation ceases.(8)On occurrence of any vacancy in the Forum for any reason, the Licensee shall take action to fill up the vacancy within 30 days from the date of occurrence of the vacancy. No act or proceeding of the Forum shall be deemed invalid by reason only of some defect in the constitution of the Forum or by reason of the existence of a vacancy among its members.(9)The Licensee shall establish such number of Forms so as to ensure that the Forum decides every complaint within a maximum period of 45 days from the date of receipt of complaint by it. The Licensee shall clearly state the location and the jurisdiction of each Forum in case of more than one Forum.(10)The Forum may pass such interim orders on the request of the complainant as the Forum considers appropriate pending the final decision on the complaint.(11)The Licensee shall duly implement the decisions and orders of the Forum made in favour of the Complainant.
