PSPCL tells officials to update security, pay interest to consumers

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, September 27

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has issued directions to all zonal heads to update the security/consumption and security/meter immediately and also ensure that interest on these securities was credited to the accounts of consumers at the rate applicable from time to time w.e.f. January 1, 2008.

What memo says

“The matter has been taken very seriously by the management. Therefore, it is once again directed to update the security (consumption) and security (meter) and credit the interest on these securities to the consumers’ accounts immediately to avoid any harassment to the consumers,” says the PSPCL memo.

In an office memo, the PSPCL Chief Engineer (Commercial) has said directions were earlier issued on May 15, 2019, and again on January 8, 2020, to all distribution heads for updating security (consumption) and security (meter) of all consumers within three months and also to credit interest on the total security amount at the rate applicable from time to time w.e.f. January 1, 2008, to the accounts of consumers.

It was also reiterated in the earlier instructions that all Additional SEs and Senior XENs of the distribution section should furnish certificate about updation of security and credit of interest to the consumers’ accounts. Further, after expiry of a three-month period, a public notice be issued by the Chief Engineers concerned for the information of consumers regarding updating security and payment of interest so that they could represent against discrepancy, if any.

The memo points out that it has been noticed that these instructions have not been complied with to date due to which the consumers have been filing various grievances and complaints to the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum. It has also been emphasised that the PSERC, in its Tariff Order for 2020-21 had reiterated that no consumers was deprived of the right to get interest on security deposit as per provisions of the Supply Code 2014.

“The matter has been taken very seriously by the management. Therefore, it is once again directed to update the security (consumption) and security (meter) and credit the interest on these securities to the consumers’ accounts immediately to avoid any harassment to the consumers,” added the PSPCL memo.