National Secretary BJP Kisan Morcha and Prabhari Himachal Pradesh Advocate, Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said that our SAD-BJP Government has made several efforts to boost the industrial sector in Punjab state.

Talking with the media persons here today, Grewal said due to these efforts of SAD-BJP Government as result several business houses are keen to invest in our Punjab. Our Punjab Government had undertaken many power reforms to further facilitate Industrial Houses such as unbundling Punjab State Electricity Board into Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The intent was to increase the efficiency but unfortunately the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is providing poor services to the Consumers in Punjab.

These services and absolute non-adherence of Standards of Performance mandated by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) appointed by Government of Punjab. Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has specified critical distribution parameters to provide efficient, reliable and safe system of Electricity through its regulations provided in its Supply Code.

These Minimum Standards of Performance provides strict timelines to resolve various Consumer grievances viz. Normal Fuse Off, Overhead Line Breakdowns, Underground Cable Breakdowns, Distribution Transformer Failure, Power Transformer Failure, Street Light Faults, Period of Scheduled Outage, Voltage Fluctuations, Meter Complaints, Release of New Connection, Transfer of Title or Conversion of Services, Shifting of Meter/Service Connection and other Services, Complaints about Consumer’s Bills and restoration of Supply. Grewal said that the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) mandates a compensation to the Consumer in case of non-fulfillment of these Minimum Standards of Performance. Compensation varies from Rs 50/- to Rs 5000/- for each default for each Consumer. It is well known that Punjab State Power Corporation Limited neither fulfils these Minimum Standard of performance (MSOP) nor compensates any Consumer towards any such lapse whereas Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) mandates payment of such compensation by the way of adjustment in Electricity Bills. For instance, Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) mandates a normal fuse off complaint shall be addressed within 4 hours in cities, towns and urban areas and in case Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) fails to resolve the complaint within 4 hours, it shall remit Rs 50/- as compensation by the way of adjustment in the next bill of the Consumer. Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) mandates registration of each and every complaint filed by the Consumer verbally, telephonically or in writing as per a duly approved Consumer Complaint Handling Procedure whereas there is hardly any such effective system in place to register and address consumer complaints.

According to the Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) filed by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) with the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC), it received only 2462 complaints in a year from over 65 Lac Consumers across Punjab whereas on an average more than 10000 complaints are received daily by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited which clearly means Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) had fudged Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR) figures to avoid compensation and save itself from the wrath of Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC).

Grewal demanded to pass strict instructions to Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to ensure registration of each and every complaint and its quick resolution, adhere to the Minimum Standard of performance (MSOP) as mandated by Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) and compensate each and every Consumer in case of any failure on its part. Grewal said that he has also sent Regd. Letter’s on, 30 January 2014 to Hon’ble Sukhbir Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Deputy Chief Minister and Power Minister,Government of Punjab, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Ram lal ji, National General Secretary BJP (Org), 11 Ashoka Road, New Delhi, Hon’ble Brigadier Jagdish Gagneja ji, PRO Investments,1st floor, Nirmal Complex, Near Baba Namdev Chowk, Civil Lines, Jalandhar, Hon’ble Shanta Kumar MP, ( Rajya Sabha ) Prabhari Punjab Pradesh, 11 Ashoka Road, New Delhi Hon’ble Shyam Jhaju, National BJP Secretary and Seh-Prabhari Punjab, 11 Ashoka Road, New Delhi, Hon’ble Om Prakash Dhankar, National President BJP Kisan Morcha, 11 Ashoka Road, New Delhi, Hon’ble Kamal Sharma, Punjab State President , BJP Punjab Headquarters, Sector 37-A, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Ajay Jamval, General Secretary (Org), BJP Punjab Headquartes, Sector 37-A, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Tikshan Sud, Political Advisor to CM Punjab, Kothi No-1368 Sector- 19 C, Chandigarh, Hon’ble Fool Chand Jain ji, RSS Vibhag Sang Chalak, House No: B19- 357/1 Hira Singh Road, Ludhiana for Information and necessary action.