HIMACHAL PRADESH ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION 

4. Legal Provisions.- (1) The Commission, in pursuance of section 57, read with clause (i) of  sub-section (1) of section 86 of the Act, shall  specify the  standards of performance of the distribution  licensees,  intending to  serve as guidelines for them to operate their distribution system for providing quality  and  reliability of resources;

(2) The Commission, as required under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the Act, shall, after consultation with licensees and persons likely to be affected, specify standards of performance of a licensee or a class of licensees.

(3) If a licensee fails to meet the standards specified under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the Act, without prejudice to any penalty, which may be imposed, or prosecution be initiated, he shall be liable to pay to a person affected such compensation as may be determined under sub section (2)  of section 57 by the Commission;

Provided that before determination of compensation, the concerned licensee shall be given reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(4)  The Commission may, in exercise of the powers vested in  it under section 58,  specify different standards under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the Act for a class or classes of  the licensees.

 (5) Every licensee shall, within the period specified, under sub-section 59 of the Act, by the Commission, furnish to the Commission the following information, namely :-

(a)   the level of performance achieved under sub-section (1) of section 57 of the Act;

(b)   the number of cases in which compensation was made under sub-section (2) of section 57 of the Act and the aggregate amount of the compensation.

(6) The Commission shall at least once in every year arrange for publication, in such form and manner, as it considers appropriate, of such of information furnished to it under sub-regulation (5).

5. Standards of performance.- (1)Standards specified in Schedule-I shall be the guaranteed standards of performance, being the minimum standards of service which a licensee shall achieve and maintain in discharge of his obligations as a distribution licensee. It aims at maintaining quality, continuity and reliability of services to its consumers at efficient levels specified by the Commission.

(2) The  Standards specified in Schedule-II are in terms of financial, technical, engineering resource management and operational efficiency levels to be adopted by the management of the distribution licensee as per the best industry practices and international norms.

(3) The distribution licensee shall, frequently but at an interval not less than six months, educate the consumers of their rights regarding the standards of performance as specified by the Commission under section 57 of the Act, by giving wide publicity amongst its field staff and public in general including local rural and urban bodies  through electronic and print media.

6. Compensation.- If the distribution licensee fails to meet the guaranteed standards of performance as specified in Schedule-I, the distribution licensee shall pay to the affected person, the compensation  mentioned against each of the standards of performance in the said  Schedule-I.

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