Power distribution company pulled up

The Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (GERC) has come down heavily on state-owned distribution companies for arbitrarily collecting reconnection charges from all types of consumers without physically disconnecting power for "unjust enrichment".

The commission has directed all the four state-owned power distribution companies to refund the amount of reconnection charges to consumers concerned after verifying the genuineness of each case.

The commission has also directed that all the licensees (distribution companies) issue a general public notice in two daily newspapers regarding the same.

The petitioners Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Society and Surendranagar District Industries Association claim they have received many complaints from the consumers.

These include Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd, Rajkot, Uttar Gujarat Vij Company Ltd, (Mehsana), Madhya Gujarat Vij Co Ltd, Vadodara, and Dakshin Gujarat Vij Co Ltd, Surat.