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electricity supply and SCrVl(3€SZ;llal' , onsurpers are not allowed to buy 2 L1 ' '- 9 *- Eu their own meters. 3 'S: 'K > J! 2.2 It has been submitted by the informant that as per report published by 'The Hindu' on 14.04.2005, in terms ofa meter testing drive undertaken by the enterprises engaged in supply and distribution of electricity to the their consumers within the territory of Delhi in July-August 2004, only around 93% of the meters checked were found to be working within the specified limit according to statistics given by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC). Another news item appearing in 'Hindustan Times' dated 08.04.2008 a committee named as Electricity Consumer Advocates Committee had noted that most meters tested by Central Power Research Institute of Bangalore under the aegis of Public Grievance Cell, were found to be running fast. Similarly news report appearing in 'The Hindu' on 09.04.2008 had brought forth the fact that the Power Consumer Advocates Committee constituted by the Delhi Government in December, 2007 had also found that the meters sent for testing to the Central Power Research Institute of Bangalore were not conforming to the prescribed standards. The said report further mentioned that the meters installed by the enterprises engaged in supply and distribution of electricity to their consumers within the territory of Delhi were giving readings up to 2.5% faster as against the 0.50% margin allowed, in terms of the queries put up by committee headed by retired Delhi High Court Judge Hon'ble Shri R.C. Chopra. That in another report/survey carried out by 'Times of India' on 23.03.2009, it was reported that a Delhi Government Inspection Report had admitted and concluded that almost 90% of the electricity meters which were checked in the National Capital Territory of Delhi were running 2.5% higher than the error margin limit and were thus leading to overcharging of the consumers. The Hindustan Times vide its report published on 09.06.2008 had reported the fact that the High Court in its Judgment had reported that digital electricity meters with a error margin of more than 1% should be considered as faulty.

As an awareness programme distribution companies have distributed lakhs of pamphlets and have advertised in the newspapers that consumers can choose their own meters. However, distribution companies do test and calibrate meters procured by consumers in accordance with the CEA and DERC regulations in order to ensure that it is fully compatible with its network. However the seal of manufacturers remains intact even after the testing. The DG has not appreciated that BIS standard is a benchmark and the maximum permissible error margin in the case of class 2.0 meters is (+)/(--)3% and in case of Class 1.0 meters it is (+)/(-) 2.5%.