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Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission (Electricity Supply Code and Related Matters) Regulations, 2015

Published vide Notification No. 4 of 2015, dated 24.9.2015

Last Updated 8th November, 2019 [guj286]

(a) One member from each of the Distribution Licensees;

(b) One member to represent all the Generating Companies to be nominated by GERC;

(c) Chief Electrical Inspector, Government of Gujarat, shall be an ex-officio member of the Supply Code Review Panel.

(d) Four representatives of the Industrial Consumers to be nominated by GERC. They shall be from a duly registered Organisation or Association of Industries/ chambers of commerce. Of these, two representatives shall be from LT Industrial Consumers and two from HT/EHT Consumers

(e) Two members to be nominated by GERC from the registered Consumer bodies to represent the categories of the domestic and commercial Consumers.

(f) One member to be nominated by GERC shall be from the registered bodies representing agriculture Consumers.

(a) Review of the Supply Code as and when necessary.

(b) Consideration of requests for review and making recommendations along with reasons to the Commission.

(c) Issue of guidelines on implementation of the Supply Code.

(d) Review of causes of electrical accidents and recommendations about required remedial measures in the light of reports of the Electrical Inspector under Section-161 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to avoid recurrence of such accidents.

(e) Ensuring the consistency of the changes/modifications proposed in the Supply Code with other Codes, Laws, Acts, Rules and Regulations in force at that point of time.

(f) Undertaking detailed studies of matters concerning the Supply Code and circulate findings and recommendations of such studies among the members of the Review Panel and other concerned entities.

(g) Holding of regular meetings as required and at least once in six months.

(h) Holding of meetings by any sub-committee of the Review Panel for discussing specific issues raised by any group of stake holders. Review and Revisions

(a) Reports on the outcome of such review.

(b) Any proposed revision to the Supply Code.

(c) All written representations and objections submitted by the Users/ Persons at the time of review.

(1) Words in the singular or plural term, as the case may be, shall also be deemed to include the plural or the singular term, respectively;

(2) References to any statutes, regulations or guidelines shall be construed as including all statutory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing such statutes, regulations or guidelines, as the case may be, referred to;

(3) Terms "include" or "including" shall be deemed to be followed by "without limitation" or "but not limited to "regardless of whether such terms are followed by such phrases or words of like import.

(4) reference herein to the 'Code' shall be construed as a reference to this Code as amended or modified by the GERC from time to time in accordance with the applicable laws in force.

(5) the headings are inserted for convenience and may not be taken into account for the purpose of interpretation of this Code.

(1) 'Act' refers to the Electricity Act, 2003 and Gujarat Electricity Industry (Reorganisation and Regulation) Act, 2003, read together and as amended time to time;

(2) 'Agreement' refers to an Agreement entered into by the Distribution Licensee and the consumer;

(3) 'Applicant' refers to an owner or occupier of any land/premises who files an application form with a licensee for supply of electricity, increase or reduction in sanctioned load/contract demand, change in title, disconnection or restoration of supply, or termination of agreement, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Supply Code, rules and regulations made thereunder or other services;

(4) 'Application' refers to an application form complete in all respects in the appropriate format, as required by the Distribution licensee, along with documents showing payment of necessary charges and other compliances;

(5) 'Application Form' refers to an application form complete in all respects in the appropriate format, as required by the Distribution licensee, before any payment of applicable charges;

(6) 'Area of Supply' refers to the area within which a Distribution Licensee is authorized by his License to supply electricity;

(7) 'Assessing Officer' refers to an officer designated as Assessing Officer by the State Government of Gujarat under provisions of Section 126 of the Act;

(8) 'Authorised Officer' refers to an officer designated as Authorised Officer by the Commission or the State Government, as the case may be, under provisions of Section 135 of the Act;

(9) 'Authorized representative' refers to of any person/entity means all officers, staff, representatives or persons discharging functions under the general or specific authority of the concerned person/entity;

(10) 'Billing Period' refers to the nominal period between two consecutive meter reading dates. It may be monthly or any other period as may be adopted by the Distribution Licensee. However, this shall not be less than one calendar month and more than two calendar months;

(11) 'Calendar Year' refers to the period from the first day of January of a year to the thirty first day of December, of the same year;

(12) 'Check Meter' refers to a meter, which shall be connected to the same core of the Current Transformer (CT) and Voltage Transformer (VT) to which main meter is connected and shall be used for accounting and billing of electricity in case of failure of main meter;

(13) 'Class-I cities' refer to as defined in the latest Census of India (areas with population of more than 1 lakh);

(14) 'Commission' refers to the Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission constituted under the Act;

(15) 'Conductor' refers to any wire, cable, bar, tube, rail or plate used for conducting electrical energy and so arranged as to be electrically connected to a system;

(16) 'Connected Load' expressed in kW, kVA or HP, refers to aggregate of the manufacturer's rated capacities of all energy consuming devices or apparatus connected with the Distribution licensee's service line on the consumer's premises which can be simultaneously used. This shall be expressed in kW or kVA. If rating is in kVA, the same may be converted to kW by multiplying the kVA with a Power Factor of 0.9. If the same or any other Apparatus is rated by the manufacturer in HP, the HP rating shall be converted to kW by multiplying it by 0.746;

(17) 'Connection Point' refers to a point at which the consumer's installation and/or apparatus are connected to distribution licensee's distribution system;

(18) 'Consumer' refers to any person who is supplied with electricity for his/her own use by a licensee or the Government or by any other person engaged in the business of supplying electricity to the public under the Act or any other law for the time being in force and includes any person whose premises are for the time being connected for the purpose of receiving electricity with the works of a licensee, the Government or such other person, as the case may be.

A consumer is specified as a:

(i) 'Low Tension Consumer (LT Consumer)' if he obtains supply from the licensee at low or medium voltage;

(ii) 'High Tension Consumer (HT Consumer)' if he obtains supply from the licensee at High Voltage;

(iii) 'Extra High Tension Consumer (EHT Consumer)' if he obtains supply from the licensee at Extra High Voltage;

(19) 'Consumer installation or consumer's installation' refers to any composite portable or stationary electrical unit including electric wires, fittings, motors and apparatus erected and wired by or on behalf of the consumer at the consumer's premises starting from the point of supply and includes apparatus that is available on his premises for being connected or envisaged to be connected to the installation but is for the time being not connected;

(20) 'Contracted load/ Sanctioned Load/ Contracted Demand' refers to the maximum demand in kW, kVA or HP, agreed to be supplied by the licensee and indicated in the agreement executed between the licensee and the consumer. Wherever the Agreement stipulates supply in kVA, the quantum in terms of kW may be obtained by multiplying by the Power Factor of 0.9. If the Agreement stipulates supply in HP, the HP shall be converted to kW by multiplying it by 0.746;

(21) 'Cut out' refers to any appliance or device for automatically interrupting the conduction of electricity through any conductor when the current rises above a pre-determined quantum and shall also include fusible devices;

(22) 'Date of commencement of Supply' refers to the date when the licensee energizes the consumer installation by connecting to the Distribution mains;

(23) 'Demand Charge for a billing period' refers to a charge levied on the consumer based on the contracted/sanctioned/connected load or maximum demand (reference to definition no. (46) of this Code) as the case maybe and shall be calculated as per the procedure laid down in the Tariff Order approved by the Commission;

(24) 'Disconnection' refers to the physical separation of User or Consumer from the system;

(25) 'Distribution Mains' refers to the portion of any main with which a service line is, or is intended to be, immediately connected;

(26) 'Distribution Licensee' refers to a person granted a license under Section 14 of the Act authorising him to operate and maintain a distribution system for supplying electricity to the consumers in his area of supply;

(27) 'Distribution System' refers to the system of wires and associated facilities between the delivery points on the transmission lines or the generating station connection and the point of connection to the installation of the consumers; Explanation. - Any system consisting mainly of overhead lines, underground cables, service lines, electrical plant, control switchgear and meters having design voltage of 33 kV and below and shall also include any other system of higher voltage as the Commission may specifically recognize. The Distribution System shall not include any part of the Transmission System except the terminal equipment (metering system, CT and PT) connected at consumer end and used for the supply of electricity to extra high voltage (66 kV and above) consumers;

(28) 'Earthed' refers to connected with the general mass of earth in such manner as to ensure at all times an immediate discharge of energy without danger;

(29) 'Electric Line' refers to any line which is used for carrying electricity for any purpose and includes:

(i) any support for any such line, that is to say, any structure, tower, pole or other thing in, on, by or from which any such line is, or may be, supported, carried or suspended; and

(ii) any apparatus connected to any such line for the purpose of carrying electricity;

(30) 'Electrical Inspector' refers to a person appointed as such by the appropriate Government under sub section (1) of section 162 of Electricity Act, 2003 and also includes Chief Electrical Inspector;

(31) 'Energy charge' refers to a charge levied on the consumer based on the quantity of electricity (units in kWh or kVAh as per tariff schedule including fuel surcharge and time of use charges) supplied;

(32) 'Extra High Voltage' refers to Voltage equal to and greater than 66 kV;

(33) 'Financial Year' refers to the period beginning from first of April in an English calendar year and ending with the thirty first of the March of the next year;

(34) 'Feeder' refers to a LT, HT or EHT line, emanating from a sub-station, to which a distribution sub-station or LT, HT or EHT consumers are connected;

(35) 'Generating Companies' refer to any company or body corporate or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not, or artificial juridical person, which owns or operates or maintains a generating station;

(36) 'GERC' refers to Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission;

(37) 'High Tension or HT/ High Voltage' refers to Voltage greater than 440 V and lesser than 66 kV;

(38) 'Indian Standards ("IS")' refer to Standards and specifications approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards;

(39) 'Independent Feeder' refers to a feeder supplying to single consumer;

(40) 'Interconnection' shall have the same meaning as "connection point" as defined in sub clause 2.3(17);

(41) 'Licence' refers to a licence granted under Section 14 of the Act;

(42) 'Licensed Electrical Contractor' refers to a contractor licensed under clause 29 of the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010;

(43) 'Load factor' is the ratio of the total number of units consumed during a given period to the total number of units which have been consumed had the load been maintained throughout the same period and shall usually be expressed as the following percentage: Load factor in percentage = Actual units consumed in a given period x 100) / (Contracted load in kW x No. of hours in the period);

(44) 'Low Tension or LT/ Low Voltage' refers to Voltage not exceeding 440 volts;

(45) 'Main' refers to any electric supply line through which electricity is or is intended to be supplied;

(46) 'Maximum Demand' refers to the Maximum Demand in kW or kVA, as the case may be, shall mean an average kW/kVA supplied during consecutive 30 / 15 minutes (depending upon the type of meter being used) period of maximum use where such meter with the features of reading the maximum demand in kW/kVA directly, has been provided;

(47) 'Meter' refers to an equipment used for measuring, indicating and recording electrical quantities like energy in kWh or kVAh, maximum demand in kW or kVA, reactive energy in kVARh etc. including accessories like Current Transformer (CT), Voltage Transformer (VT) / Potential Transformer (PT) / Capacitor Voltage Transformer (CVT) etc. where used in conjunction with such meter;

(48) 'Month' refers to the calendar month unless the context otherwise requires. A time lasting from a specified date in one calendar month until the same date in the next calendar month (a period of time equivalent to about 30 days);

(49) 'Occupier' refers to the owner or person in occupation of the premises where energy is used or proposed to be used;

(50) 'Overhead Line' refers to any electric supply-line, which is placed above ground and in the open air but excluding live rails of traction system;

(51) 'Person' refers to any individual or company or body corporate or association or body of individuals whether incorporated or not, or artificial juridical person;

(52) 'Point of Supply' refers to, unless otherwise agreed to, the incoming terminal of the cut-out installed by the consumer, i.e. Meters/switches installed at the Consumer's Premises in case of LT Consumers; Distribution box installed on transformer centre / substation established on Consumer's premises, when meter is installed on such a transformer centre/ substation. Control switchgears that may be installed in the Consumer's Premises as provided subject to provision of this code in case of HT and EHT Consumers;

(53) 'Power Factor' refers to the cosine of the electrical angle between the voltage and current vectors in an AC electrical circuit;

(54) 'Premises' refers to land, building or infrastructure or part or combination thereof in respect of which a separate meter or metering arrangements have been made by the licensee for supply of electricity; In case of Agriculture Connection, premises means the place of source of water in respect of which connection has been given or intended to be given by the licensee for supply of electricity;

(55) 'Rural Areas' refer to the areas covered within Gram Panchayats as defined in the Gujarat Gram Panchayat Act;

(56) 'Service Line' refers to any electric supply line through which electricity is or is intended to be supplied: -

(a) to a single Consumer either from a distributing main or immediately from the Distribution Licensee's Premises, or

(b) from a distributing main to a group of Consumers on the same Premises or contiguous premises supplied from the same point of the distributing mains;

(57) 'Street' refers to any way, road, lane, square, court, alley, passage or open space, whether a thoroughfare or not, over which the public have a right of way, and also the roadway and footway over any public bridge or causeway;

(58) 'Sub-station' refers to Station for transforming or converting electricity for the transmission or distribution thereof and includes transformers, converters, switchgears, capacitors, synchronous condensers, structures cable and other appurtenant equipment and any buildings used for that purpose and the site thereof;

(59) 'Supply', in relation of electricity, refers to the sale of electricity to a licensee or consumer;

(60) 'Supply Code Review Panel' refers to the Panel constituted under Clause No. 1.1;

(61) 'Tariff Order', in respect of a licensee, refers to the most recent order issued by the Commission for that licensee indicating the rates to be charged by the licensee from various categories of consumers for supply of electrical energy and services;

(62) 'Tariff Schedule' refers to the most recent schedule of charges for supply of electricity and services issued by the licensee as per the provisions of the Tariff Order for that licensee;

(63) 'Theft' shall mean theft of electricity as defined in Section 135 of the Act;

(64) 'Transmission Licensee' refers to a person who has been granted a licence under Section 14 of the Act authorising him to establish or operate transmission lines;

(65) 'Transmission System' refers to the system consisting of extra high voltage electric lines being operated at EHV (excluding generator interconnection facilities) owned and/or operated by the Transmission licensee for the purposes of the transmission of electricity from one power station to a sub-station or to another power station or between sub-stations or to or from any external interconnection equipment up-to the interconnection with the distribution system and includes the plant and apparatus and meters owned or used by the transmission licensee in connection with the transmission of electricity, but shall not include any part of any distribution system of the licensee/licensee's distribution system;

(66) 'Urban Areas' refer to the areas covered by all Municipal Corporations and other Municipalities including the areas falling under the various Urban Development Authorities, Cantonment Authorities and industrial estates or townships, excluding the areas covered under Class-I Cities;

(67) 'User' refers to any person having electrical interface with, or using the distribution system of the distribution licensee to whom this Code is applicable;

(a) Likely reduction in Transmission and Distribution Losses;

(b) Load reduction on transformers of licensee's system and their availability for meeting new requirements.

(1) the supply of power is technically feasible;

(2) the applicant has observed the procedure specified in this Code; and

(3) the applicant agrees to bear the cost of supply and services as specified in the GERC (Licensee's Power to Recover Expenditure incurred in Providing Electric Supply and Other Miscellaneous Charges) Regulations, 2005 and amendments thereof.

(1) Application form for release of new connection (Low Tension) - Annexure I

(2) Application form for release of new connection (High Tension/ Extra High Tension) - Annexure II

(1) If the applicant is an individual:

(i) Electoral identity card;

(ii) Passport;

(iii) Driving license;

(iv) Ration card;

(v) Photo identity card issued by Government agency;

(vi) PAN card;

(vii) Aadhar Card

(2) If the applicant is a company, trust, educational institution, government department etc, the application form shall be signed by a competent authority (e.g. Branch Manager, Principal, Executive Engineer, etc) along with a relevant resolution/ authority letter of the institution concerned.

(1) Copy of registered sale deed or lease deed or in the case of agricultural connections a copy of 7/12, 8-A and hakk patrak (6-A);

(2) Latest Municipal tax receipt or Demand notice or any other related document;

(3) Letter of allotment;

(4) Ownership Certificate issued by village level Government functionary;

(5) An applicant who is not an owner but an occupier of the premises shall, along with any one of the documents listed at (1) to (3) above, also furnish a No Objection Certificate from owner of the premises except lease holder where long lease is granted for premises. Where the NOC from the owner of the premises is not available due to any reason (s), new connection be allowed on the basis of submission of indemnity bond prescribed by the Distribution Licensee to indemnify the Distribution Licensee against losses on account of disputes that may arise out of effecting service connection to him.

(1) Electoral identity card;

(2) Passport;

(3) Driving license;

(4) Ration card;

(5) Photo identity card issued by any Government agency;

(6) Statement of running Bank Account;

(7) Most recent Water / Telephone / Electricity / Gas connection Bill;

(8) Income Tax assessment order;

(9) Aadhar Card;

(1) Industrial consumers: Valid Industrial License, if applicable; alongwith approval of use of land for Non- Agriculture purpose;

(2) Agricultural consumers: No Objection Certificate from competent government authority for tube wells, if required;

(3) Non-Domestic Khokhas and Temporary Structure: No Objection Certificate for khokha or temporary structure from the nagar nigam / nagar palika / nagar panchayat / gram sabha / gram panchayat / land development authority / land owning agency;

(4) Where new industrial connection or addition to the load of existing connection need clearance from the pollution or environmental angle, the applicant shall submit "NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE" from the competent authority to the Distribution Licensee.

(1) Fix the point of supply and the place where the meter and the MCB etc. shall be installed in consultation with the consumer:

(2) Record the correct full address of the premises, if not provided in the application form, and note down landmarks near the property and the pole number from where service connection is proposed to be given; and

(3) Verify all other particulars mentioned in the application form, as required.

(4) The Distribution Licensee shall obtain the necessary way leaves and permissions for laying down the service lines for the supply of power. The applicant shall fully co-operate with the Distribution Licensee in obtaining such necessary way leaves and permissions. However, where the consumer has no frontage abutting a public street and where the service line has necessarily to cross over or go under other property, the consumer shall obtain the necessary way leave and permission at his own expense and continue them as long as supply is to be maintained. Should, however, the way leaves or permissions be withdrawn, the Supply may be cut off forthwith, subject to the provisions of Acts, rules and regulations for the time being in force. Any extra expense incurred in laying the service line and maintaining the same in accordance with the way leaves shall be recovered from the Consumer. The Applicant shall provide necessary undertaking to the Distribution Licensee if required.

(1) Details of the works (including service line) to be undertaken for providing electricity supply;

(2) Charges for the above mentioned works to be paid by the applicant in accordance with GERC (Licensees Power to Recover Expenditure incurred in providing supply and Other Miscellaneous Charges) Regulations 2005 and amendments thereof.

(3) Amount of security deposit as specified in the GERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, 2005 and amendments thereof.

(1) The applicant shall apply for change of consumer's name in the format prescribed in Annexure I or II (as applicable) to this Code, along with a copy of the latest bill duly paid. The request for transfer of connection shall not be accepted unless all dues recoverable against the concerned connection are settled. The application form shall be accepted on showing proof of ownership/occupancy of property. A No-Objection Certificate from the registered consumer or authorized person of the premises shall be required for cases involving transfer of security deposit in the name of applicant. In the case where security deposit is to be transferred in the name of applicant, the shortfall in security deposit calculated in accordance with the GERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, 2005, as amended from time to time, shall be payable by the applicant. The licensee shall process the application form in accordance with clauses 4.64 - 4.66 of this Code.

(2) In case the No Objection Certificate from the registered consumer or authorized person is not submitted, an application form for change of name shall be entertained only if security deposit as stipulated in the GERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, 2005, as amended from time to time, is paid afresh. However, the original security deposit shall be refunded to the claimant as and when a claim is preferred by the concerned person.

(3) Change of consumer's name shall be effected within the time frame prescribed in GERC (Standard of Performance of Distribution Licensee) Regulations, 2005, as amended from time to time.

(1) The applicant shall apply for change of consumer's name in the format prescribed in Annexure I or II (as applicable) to this Code, with a copy of the latest bill duly paid. The application form shall be accepted on showing the Registered Will/deed, Succession/Legal heir Certificate, Mutation in municipal/land records or any other proof of legal heirship and NOC from other legal heir (s) in case the connection is to be changed in the name of one of the legal heirs. The licensee shall process the application form in accordance with clauses 4.65 - 4.68 of this Code.

(2) Security deposit lying with the licensee in the name of original consumer shall be transferred to its legal heir to whom the connection is to be transferred and the shortfall in security deposit calculated in accordance with the GERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, 2005, as amended from time to time, if any, shall be payable by the applicant.

(3) The change of consumer's name shall be effected as per time frame prescribed in GERC (Standard of Performance of Distribution Licensee) Regulations, 2005, as amended from time to time.

(4) Any charge for electricity or any sum other than charge for electricity as due and payable to licensee which remains unpaid by a deceased consumer or the erstwhile owner/occupier of any land/premises as the case may be, shall be a charge on the premise transmitted to the legal representative/ successors-in-law or transferred to the new owner of the premise as the case may be, and same shall be recoverable by the licensee as due from such legal representative or successor-in- law or new owner/occupier of the premises as the case may be.

(1) Whether the additional power can be supplied at existing voltage or at a higher voltage;

(2) Addition or alterations, if any, required to be made to the system and the cost to be borne by the consumer;

(3) Amount of additional security deposit, cost of additional infrastructure and the system strengthening charges or capacity building charges, if any, to be deposited; and

(4) Change in classification of the consumer and applicability of tariff, if required.

(1) Pay additional security deposit, cost of addition or alteration required to be made to the system, if any, and system strengthening charges/capacity building charges, if any, within 30 working days of receipt of the demand note; and

(2) Execute a supplementary Agreement for the additional load.

(1) Details of alteration/modification/removal of electrical installation with work completion certificate and test report from a Licensed Electrical Contractor where alteration of installation is involved.

(2) Any other reason(s) for reduction of contract demand.

(1) Name and address of the consumer/applicant;

(2) Address of the premises for which electricity supply has been requisitioned and for which the agreement is being executed;

(3) Sanctioned load/ contract demand;

(4) Purpose of usage of electricity;

(5) Declaration by the applicant/consumer;

(i) To abide by provisions of Act and this Code;

(ii) To pay for the supply of electricity based on the prevailing tariff rates;

(iii) To pay for all other charges payable in accordance with this Code and the Schedule of Miscellaneous Charges of the licensee approved by the Commission from time to time;

(iv) To deposit such security money as the licensee may be entitled to recover from him under the Act and the relevant GERC Regulations.

(6) Validity of Agreement for a minimum period of two years and extended automatically, unless otherwise changed by the consumer.

(a) the incoming terminal of the cut-out /MCB/ELCB installed by the consumer immediately after meter in case of LT Consumers;

(b) Distribution box installed on transformer centre / substation established on Consumer's premises, when meter is installed on such a transformer centre/ substation.

(c) Control switchgears that may be installed in the Consumer's Premises as provided subject to provision of this code in case of HT and EHT Consumers.

(1) Inspecting, testing, repairing or altering the electric supply lines, meters, fittings, works and apparatus for the supply of electricity belonging to the Distribution Licensee;

(2) Ascertaining the amount of electricity supplied or the electrical quantity contained in the supply; or

(3) Removing where a supply of electricity is no longer required, or where the Distribution Licensee is authorized to take away and cut off such supply, any electric supply-lines, meters, fittings, works or apparatus belonging to the licensee.

(1) Enter any premises or land referred to in clause 4.112 for any of the purposes mentioned therein;

(2) Enter any premises to which electricity is to be supplied by him, for the purpose of examining and testing the electric wires, fittings, works and apparatus for the use of electricity belonging to the consumer.

(1) Friction less foot valve

(2) HDPE piping suction and delivery

(3) ISI marked energy efficient monobloc/ submersible pump set.

(4) ISI marked Capacitor of adequate rating for the pump set

(1) Purchase the meter, MCB/CB and associated equipment himself from a vendor(s) provided the equipments are of a make and specification approved by the licensee from time-to-time; or

(2) Require that the meter, MCB/CB and associated equipment be supplied by the licensee.

(1) (a) For 1 Phase LT connections - Electronic Meters

(b) For 3 Phase LT connections - Electronic Meters with Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI)

(2) For HT/EHT consumers - 3 Phase Tri-vector meters with MDI. The meters shall have a facility for "Time of the Day" metering and storage of at least 45 days. The consumer shall have the option to install meter having facility to record peak hours MDI in addition to above features

Testing of Defective Meters

(1) If the meter was owned by the consumer, the licensee shall inform the consumer to replace the meter and associated equipment. The licensee shall however replace the meter immediately and start charging meter rent till the consumer arranges it's own meter and associated equipments.

(2) If the meter was owned by the licensee, the licensee shall install a new meter at its own cost:

(1) Address and telephone number of the billing office / distribution centre;

(2) Service Connection Number;

(3) Bill Number and Period of Bill;

(4) Consumer Number, Name and Address;

(5) Pole Number from which connection is served / Name of sub-division or centre;

(6) Date of issue of Bill;

(7) Tariff category of consumer (i.e. RGP, NRGP etc.)

(8) Tariff, rate of electricity duty and cess applicable;

(9) Status of meter (OK/defective/not available);

(10) Billing Status (Regular/ Assessed/ Provisional Bill with reason);

(11) Supply details:

(i) Type of supply (i.e. single phase, three-phase LT or HT)

(ii) Contracted load/ Connected load

(12) Meter number and identification details of meter (in case the meter was replaced during the billing period, the bill must indicate the meter numbers of new as well as old meter, date of replacement, final reading of old meter and initial reading of new meter at the time of replacement of meter);

(13) Initial meter reading with date;

(14) Final meter reading with date;

(15) Multiplying Factor of the meter if any;

(16) Units consumed;

(17) Maximum demand;

(18) Due date of payment;

(19) Billing details: Item-wise details for the current month as well as past arrears shall be furnished in the bill. A representative list is given below:

(i) Energy Charges

(ii) Fixed Charges

(iii) Meter rent

(iv) Capacitor surcharges

(v) Other Charges, if any

(vi) Electricity Duty

(vii) FPPPA Charges-

(viii) Power factor adjustment charges, if any

(ix) Reactive Energy Charges, if any

(x) Time of Use charges, if any

(xi) Surcharge for delay, if any

(xii) Interest on installments due

(xiii) Total current month demand

(xiv) Arrears (with details)

(xv) Details of Subsidy, if any, under Section 65 of the Act

(xvi) Others (with details)

(xvii) Total amount due

(xviii) Adjustment

(xix) Net amount to be paid

(20) Modes of payment accepted;

(21) In case of cheques and bank drafts, the receiving authority in whose favour the amount should be drawn;

(22) Security Deposit held and required;

(23) Consumption details of last six readings;

(24) Notice under section 56 for payment of dues.

(1) Address(es) of collection centre(s) and working hours for collection of bill payments, including the date and time of presence of the mobile van, if any, at different venues for collection of bill payments;

(2) Designation and address of the authority with whom grievance/complaints pertaining to bills can be lodged;

(3) Complete address(es) with telephone number(s) of the complaint centers, if any;

(4) Addresses and telephone numbers of the relevant Grievance Redressal Officers including Central Grievance Redressal Officers as well as the Ombudsman constituted under Section 42 sub-clause 6 of the Act;

(5) Tariff Schedule applicable to the consumer; and

(6) Information relating to Safety, Energy Conservation, Prevention of theft, etc. But in any case bill should not contain any sort of commercial advertisement into it.

(1) As per clauses 7.7-7.9 of this Code, if it is established in the licensee's enquiry that the loss of meter was due to a deliberate act of the consumer and/or with his connivance.

(2) As per clauses 6.58 and 6.59 of this Code, in other cases.

(1) In person at the designated collection offices of the licensee during specified times; or

(2) By post or courier; or

(3) By deposit in the drop-boxes maintained by the licensee at designated locations; or

(4) By bank transfer through the internet; or

(5) By any other scheme notified by the licensee for acceptance of bill payment.

(1) Late payment charge;

(2) Arrears of electricity charges and corresponding arrears of electricity duty/ tax;

(3) Current electricity charges and corresponding current electricity duty/tax;

(4) Miscellaneous charges.

(1) Actual period from the date of commencement of supply to the date of detection of theft;

(2) Actual period from the date of replacement of component of metering system in which the evidence is detected to the date of detection of theft;

(3) Actual period from the date of previous checking of installation to date of detection of theft;

(4) Meter Reading Instrument (MRI) data should be considered wherever available.

(5) Based on the valid document produced by the accused person.

(1) The tampered meter shall be replaced with a new meter by the licensee at the consumer's cost, as the case may be, immediately and the licensee shall raise the assessment bill at two times the normal bills for the period of last six months reckoned from date of declaration.

(2) The energy bill, for the period the meter is not replaced, shall be sent as per the procedure for defective meters.

(3) The licensee shall not move the Special Court in case a consumer voluntarily declares the tampered meter and pays the requisite charges in time.

(4) In case of default in payment, the procedure for booking the theft case may be followed.

(5) The benefit of voluntary disclosure scheme can be availed once in life time for a particular consumer number.

(1) Period of assessment: If the Assessing Officer reaches to the conclusion that unauthorized use of electricity has taken place, he shall take into account the following and arrive at the least period (duration) of unauthorized use of electricity:

(a) for the period of twelve months

(b) for the period from the date of previous inspection if any by the licensee's officer to the date of detection from the date of service connection to the date of detection

(c) wherever electronic meters are installed and the load curves are studied periodically, the period of unauthorized use of electricity could be limited to the exact period as could be determined scientifically.

(d) Based on the valid document produced by the accused person.

(2) Assessment charge: The assessment for units assessed as per clause 7.41 of this Code shall be done on the basis of applicable tariff and in accordance with the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2007 and any subsequent amendments, excluding the consumption recorded by the meter or already billed during the assessment period at applicable tariffs.

(3) If a consumer is found indulging in more than one act of unauthorized use of electricity, the charges payable by the consumer in respect of each such unauthorized use shall be separately assessed and billed accordingly.

(1) In case of non-demand based consumers, if the connected load of the consumer is found in excess of load contracted, then the fixed charge shall be charged for the excess load at twice the applicable fixed charge as per the tariff. In addition to this, the energy charges to be recovered on differential basis at penal rate, if tariff of energy charge changes due to increased load with respect to the slab of contracted load and actual connected load.

(2) If it is found that energy supplied is used for a purpose other than for which usage of electricity was authorized and/or energy is utilized for the premises/areas other than the premises/area for which the supply of electricity was authorized, assessment should be made as under;

(i) Quantum of unauthorised use of energy, U = a x( b / c) kWh

Where

a - Total consumption recorded during the preceding period of existence of such violations limited to a specified period of assessment as referred in Clause 7.41 (1)

b - Unauthorised load found at the time of inspection

c - Total connected load found at the time of inspection

(ii) Penal charges on account of unauthorized use of energy = (2 x U x d) - (U x e)

Where

U - Quantum of unauthorized use of energy, kWh

d - Tariff of unauthorized use

e - Tariff of authorized use

(iii) The period for computation in all such cases shall be as stated in Clause 7.41 (1) above.

(1) On non-payment of the licensee's dues: The licensee may issue a disconnection notice in writing, as per Section 56 of the Act, to any consumer who defaults on his payment of dues, after giving him a notice period of 15 working days to pay the dues. Such notice can be embedded in the energy bill also. Thereafter, the licensee may disconnect the consumer's installation on expiry of the said notice period by removing the service line/meter as the licensee may deem fit;

(2) If the conduct/continuance of any business/industry/activity being carried out in any premises becomes unlawful due to lack of necessary permission or withdrawal of permission from the competent authority on written intimation by such competent authority to licensee;

(3) If the wiring, apparatus, equipment or installation at the consumer's premises is found to be defective or there is leakage of electricity or if the consumer is found to have altered the position of the meter and related apparatus or if the consumer uses any apparatus or appliance or uses the energy in such manner as to endanger the service lines, equipment, electric supply mains and other works of the licensee, or is found to be using it in any manner which unduly or improperly interferes with the efficient supply of energy to any other consumer.

(4) If at any time the consumer is found to be using energy for a purpose other than for which it was intended / provided or tampers with the meter and/or other apparatus of the licensee on his premises or extends/allows supply of energy to any other premises from his connection.

(5) If a consumer, willfully denies or creates condition of inaccessibility of meter, shall be served notice to give facilities for reading of meter by Distribution Licensee's authorized representative at a final time and date. If the consumer fails to comply with the notice as aforesaid, the supply of the consumer's premises shall be disconnected.

(1) On the termination of the Agreement.

(2) If the cause for which the supply was temporarily disconnected is not removed within the notice period.

(1) Affixing the notice at a conspicuous place on the consumer's premises in the presence of two witness and photographing the notice; or

(2) Publication of the notice in daily newspaper(s) commonly read in the concerned locality to be kept on record by the Licensee.

(1) Anything done or action taken or purported to have been taken, or proceedings initiated under such repealed Regulations, shall be deemed to have been taken under this Code to the extent that same were not inconsistent with the Act.

(2) The Commission may, at any time and on such terms as it may think fit, amend, alter or modify any provision of this Code or remove any error or defect in this Code.

Annexure I

Application Form - New Connection/ Load enhancement/ Load reduction/ Reconnection (Agriculture)/ Change of Name/ Shifting/ Temporary Supply/ Conversion of Service/ Change of consumer category (Low Voltage Services) (Form A-1)

Note. - (1) Applicant is requested to fill his/her name with all details clearly and to sign.

(2) For applicability of tariff, please refer guidelines attached in Annexure-I.

1: Application for;

2: Purpose of usage of Power Supply

3: Type of Industry/Commercial Unit/ Institution

4: Legal Status of the applicant

5: Full name of Applicant & Address (where power supply is demanded)

6: Present Postal Address (For correspondence)

7: Load Detail (kW/ HP)

8: PDC Reconnection / Shifting / (Only for AG Connection)

9: Change of Name

10: Conversion of Service

11: List of Documents to be attached

I. Identity Proof submitted along with this application form:

II. Proof of ownership of occupancy for which electricity connection is required (Tick any one)

III. Proof of current address (Tick any one)

IV. Any other document as applicable (Please specify)

12: Any electricity dues outstanding in licensee's area of operation in consumer's name: Yes/ No

13: Any electricity dues outstanding for the premises for which connection applied for: Yes/ No

14: Any electricity dues outstanding with the licensee against any firm with which the consumer is associated as an Owner, Partner, Director or Managing Director: Yes/ No

15: Declaration

(a) The information provided in this application is true to my knowledge.

(b) I/We desire and agree with the distribution licensee to avail power supply for the above mentioned purpose and of the load shown in this application form for the period not less than two years from the first day of the month next to date of commencement of power supply by the licensee.

(c) I/ We have read the GERC (Gujarat Electricity Supply Code) and agree to abide by the conditions mentioned therein.

(d) I/ We will deposit electricity dues regularly as per the applicable electricity tariff and other charges.

(e) I/ We will own the responsibility of security and safety of the meter, cut-out and the installation thereafter.

Note. - Apart from documents for identity proof, proof of ownership/occupancy of premises and proof of current address, the following documents shall be attached with the application form

(1) Industrial consumers: Valid Industrial License, if applicable; alongwith approval of use of land for Non- Agriculture purpose or copy of an application for N. A. with a condition to submit N. A. before commencement of supply.

(2) Agricultural consumers: No Objection Certificate from competent government authority for tube wells, if required;

(3) Non-Domestic Khokhas and Temporary Structure: No Objection Certificate for khokha or temporary structure from the nagar nigam / nagar palika / nagar panchayat / gram sabha /gram panchayat / land development authority / land owning agency.

(4) BPL Category Consumers: BPL Card issued by the appropriate State Government Authority.

Annexure II

Note. - (1) Applicant is requested to fill his/her name with all details clearly and to sign.

(a) The information provided in this application is true to my knowledge.

(b) I/ We have read the GERC (Gujarat Electricity Supply Code) and agree to abide by the conditions mentioned therein.

(c) I/ We will deposit electricity dues, every month, as per the applicable electricity tariff and other charges.

(d) I/ We will own the responsibility of security and safety of the meter and metering equipments and the installation thereafter.

Note. - The following documents shall be attached with the application form:

1. Proof of ownership of the premises

2. A map indicating the proposed location of the plant/ office and the point where supply is required. The map should also clearly show all the boundary of the premises, the public road/s (with name/s of the road/s) inside and outside of the premises/ land, roads, lands, roads belonging to outside agency innerving the premises, if any.

3. License/ NOC from statutory authority, if required or a declaration by the applicant that his connection does not fall under the requirement of NOC under any statue.

4. In case of a proprietary firm, an affidavit to be submitted stating that the applicant is the sole proprietor of the firm.

5. In case of partnership firm, partnership deed.

6. In case of Limited Company, Memorandum and Articles of Association and Certificate of Incorporation.

7. Proof of permanent residential address of the consumer and PAN Number, if any. If there is any change at a later date, the same shall be intimated by the consumer to the licensee immediately.

8. Letter of intent for production/ enhancement in production may be furnished.

9. List of equipments proposed to be installed along with the expected load.

10. Resolution for authorized signatory.

11. Registration from Industries Department.

12. Extract of project report relevant to power and process requirements ( in case of industries)

13. Copy of the relevant section of the current tariff order that provides details of the tariff category opted by the consumer and duly signed by him. This will be appended with the agreement after completion of formalities.

Annexure III

Annexure IV

Assessment of Energy in cases of Theft/Unauthorised use of electricity

1. The assessment formula for calculation of the consumption due to theft of electricity shall be as under:

Units assessed = L x H x F

Where,

L = Load (Connected load found in the consumer's premises during the course of inspection) in kW;

In case of demand based consumers: L in kW is the 75% of total connected load of the consumers at the time of inspection or the contracted demand whichever is higher.

H = Number of hours of the period considered as per clause 7.7 of this code.

F = Load factor, which shall be taken for different categories of use as given below: