New power supply code regulations likely by May

The new supply code regulations of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), still in draft stage, under which discoms may have to compensate consumers for unscheduled power cuts, is likely come into force by May.
The commission, which had earlier come out with the draft regulations, has extended the time till which people can submit their suggestions on the proposals to March 21.
It was to expire on February 20 as per the earlier notification.
The power regulator said that the decision to extend the last date was taken following requests from the public.
"The commission has decided to extend the last date i.E. 20.2.2017 for receiving comments/suggestions/objections upto 21.3.2017," it said in a notice.

It is learnt that following the analysis of the proposals, that also covers areas such as safety and conditions for new and existing connections, the necessary changes will be effected which will take around "one to one-and-a-half months".

It proposes compensation of Rs 10 per kw (kilo-watt) per hour of sanctioned load or contract demand, as the case may be, subject to maximum of Rs 100 per hour per consumer in case of unscheduled outage affecting more than 100 consumers.
The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (Supply Code and Performance Standards) Regulations, 2017 was brought in after the Delhi High Court quashed the previous regulation citing the absence of approval from the Lt Governor.

The previous regulation had proposed that consumers be compensated up to Rs 100 per hour for unscheduled outages extending up to two hours.
It was brought following the AAP government's directive to the commission, which had triggered cries of "interference" in its workings by the private discoms.