Section 4 in The Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum & Electricity Ombudsman) Regulations, 2006
4. Constitution of Forum For Redressal of Consumer Grievances.
- 4.1 Each Forum to be constituted by the Distribution Licensee shall consist of three members, who shall meet the following criteria:(a)The Chairperson of the Forum shall be a retired senior judicial officer; or a retired civil servant not below the rank of a Collector; or a retired Principal of a reputed Engineering college; or a retired Professor of the Electrical Engineering Department of a reputed institute; or a retired senior electrical engineer of the Government.Provided that the Chairperson shall preferably have working knowledge of the vernacular language of the State of Maharashtra.(b)One member shall be a person not below the rank of an executive engineer of the Board or a person of equivalent rank of any other Distribution Licensee.(c)[ One member shall be a representative of a registered voluntary consumer protection organization of the area, working preferably for at least five (5) years on matters concerning consumer grievances.] [Sub-regulation (c) was substituted by Notification No. MERC/Legal/116 of 2005/631, dated 2nd April, 2007 (M.G.G., Part IV-C, pages 255-256).]Provided that the Distribution Licensee shall, while appointing the member referred to in sub-clause (b), ensure that he/she is a person having knowledge and experience in distribution and supply of electricity.Provided that, such member referred to in sub-clause (c), shall not have been in the employment in any capacity under, or agency of, the Distribution Licensee for a minimum period of three (3) years prior to being appointed as member of the Forum.Provided further that in case the Distribution Licensee has less than one lac fifty thousand (1,50,000) consumers in its area of supply in the State of Maharashtra, the Forum may consist of a single member, who shall fulfill the eligibility criteria of sub-clause (a) above.Provided also that where the Chairperson is absent from a sitting of the Forum, the technical member, who fulfills the eligibility criteria of sub-clause (b) above, shall be the Chairperson for such sitting.4.2The Distribution Licensee shall ensure that the post of a member in the Forum is not kept vacant for a period exceeding three (3) months.
