UP's consumer-friendly act lowers service benchmarks

A statute, which talks about raising consumer service standards in Uttar Pradesh, has in fact lowered the bar, at least in the energy sector. UP Janhit Guarantee Act 2011 is aimed at ensuring better and time bound dispensation of public services to people.

A power consumers' body today petitioned UP Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) contending that consumer service parameters of energy sector as contained in the state Act were in contravention of the central Electricity Act 2003.

It argued that such benchmarks had already been defined by UPERC through Electricity Supply Code 2005 and as provided under Electricity Act 2003.

"Therefore, the benchmarks relating to energy sector under UP Janhit Guarantee Act 2011 openly violate the central Act," UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad president Avadhesh Kumar Verma told Business Standard.

He said while, Electricity Supply Code 2005 mandates new power connection to consumer within seven days, Janhit Guarantee Act gives the time frame of 30 days.

Similarly, Janhit Guarantee Act has fixed time limit of seven days to replace burnt transformers. Whilst, burnt transformers have to be replaced within 72 hours and 24 hours in rural and urban areas respectively as mentioned in the Code.

"The state does not have the authority to fix 'standard of performance' in energy sector, which is the prerogative of UPERC. The government, however, could always try to better the benchmarks, but not lower the bar already set," Verma noted. The petition has been put before UPERC chairman Desh Deepak Verma, Commission member I B Pandey and secretary Arun Kumar Srivastava seeking direction to the state for adhering to the set benchmarks.

Yesterday, UP had expanded the scope of UP Janhit Guarantee Act by including 123 more services spanning energy, labour, excise, secondary education, entertainment tax, housing, agriculture etc.

It was enacted during the previous Mayawati regime and till now only covered 17 services pertaining to health, revenue, food and civil supplies and urban development. Now, the Act covers 140 services.