Chapter IX STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE, DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION ETC. BY LICENSEES

("State Advisory committee.") 33 .(1) The Commission shall constitute a committee to be known as the State Advisory Committee, in consultation with the State Government which shall consist of such number of persons being not less than 9 and not more than 15 as the Commission may appoint after consultation with such representatives or bodies representing the following interests as the Commission thinks fit, that is to say, holders of supply licences in the State , holders of transmission licences in the State; generating companies operating in the State, non-government organizations, consumer and consumer groups, academic institutions , research bodies, commerce, industry, transport, agriculture and labour employed in the electricity Industry.

1. (2) The Chairperson and members of the Commission shall be ex-officio Chairperson and Member of the State Advisory Committee.
2. (3) The State Advisory Committee shall meet at least once in every 3 months.
3. (4) The term of the State Advisory Committee shall be three years.
4. (5) The functions of the State Advisory Committee shall be as follows:--
   • (a) to advise the Commission on major questions of policy relating to the Electricity Industry in the State ; and
   • (b) to advise the Commission on any matters, which the Commission may put before it, including matters relating to the quality, continuity and extent of service provided by licensees and compliance by licensees with the conditions and requirements of their licences.

1. (1) The Commission may, after consultation with the licensees, the State Advisory Committee, and with persons or bodies appearing to it to be representative of persons likely to be affected, from time to time :--
   • (a) determine such standards of performance in connection with the provisions of electricity supply services and in connection with the promotion of the efficient use of electricity by consumers as, in its opinion, is efficient and ought to be achieved by such licensees: Provided that such standards shall be consistent with the standards set up for the Electricity Industry by authorities constituted by the Central Government and in no case it shall be inferior to such standards.
   • (b) prescribe power system operation codes for the licensees, generating companies and others to comply including but not limited to intra-state grid transmission code, distribution code, supply code and supply regulations;
   • (c) prescribe safety regulations in the use of electricity and for operation of the power system; and
   • (d) arrange for the publication, in such form and in such manner as it considers appropriate, of the standards, codes, regulations and other matters so determined under clauses (a),
   • (b) and (c).
2. (2) The Commission may determine different standards and codes for different licensees.

The Commission may, after consultation with

1. (a) holders of licenses, and
2. (b) other persons or bodies appearing to the Commission to be representative of persons and categories of person likely to be affected and
3. (c) the State Advisory Committee, frame regulations prescribing-
   • (i) the charter for the consumers and public in general, their right to information about the working of the Licensees;
   • (ii) the circumstances in which such licensees are to inform consumers of their rights and payment of compensation to consumers for any delay or default on the part of such licensees;
   • (iii) the standards of performance in relation to any duty arising under clause
   • (i) or otherwise in connection with the electricity supply to the consumers; and
   • (iv) the circumstances in which licensees are to be exempted from any requirements of the regulations or of this section and may make different provisions for different licensees.

nothing in this Act in any way shall prejudice or affect the rights and privileges of the consumers under other laws including the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (No. 68 of 1986).

1. (1) The Commission shall, from time to time, collect information with respect to-
   • (a) the fines or penalties levied on licensees under this Act;
   • (b) the levels of performance achieved by such licensees in connection with the transmission and provisions of electricity supply services; and
   • (c) the levels of performance achieved by such licensees in connection with the promotion of the efficient use of electricity by consumers.
2. (2) On or before such date in each year as may specified in a direction given by the commission, each licensee shall furnish to the Commission the following information:--
   • (a) with respect to each standard prescribed, the number of cases in which a penalty was levied and the aggregate amount of value of those penalties; and
   • (b) with respect to each standard determined and such information with respect to the level of performance achieved by the licensee as may be so specified.
3. (3) The Commission shall, at least once in every year, arrange for the publication, in such form and in such manner as it considers appropriate, of such of the information collected by or furnished to it under this section as may appear to the Commission to be so required.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Commission may, for reasons to be recorded , direct that any on formation with respect to licensees generating companies or any other person shall be treated as confidential and restrict the disclosure of the same.