UPPCL Challenges UPERC’s Rs 7.18 Lakh Penalty Over Power Restoration Delays Before Electricity Tribunal

Lucknow, Jul 28 (KNN) Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) has challenged a Rs 7.18 lakh penalty imposed by the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (UPERC) before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). 

The penalty stems from a June 3 order by UPERC, which found that the utility failed to restore power supply to smart prepaid meter consumers within the mandated two-hour period after recharge. 

The appeal is scheduled to be heard on August 10.

Regulator Flags Service Standard Violations

According to the commission, more than 92 per cent of reconnections carried out between March 13 and April 10 met the prescribed timeline. However, nearly 1.93 lakh consumers experienced delays beyond two hours, in violation of the UPERC Standards of Performance Regulations, 2019.

UPERC rejected UPPCL’s explanations, including telecom network failures and system synchronisation issues, stating that such recurring problems could not justify service lapses. On July 16, the regulator directed the utility to deposit the penalty within 15 days.

UPPCL Cites Operational Challenges

Defending its appeal, a senior UPPCL official told TOI that the regulator did not adequately consider practical field conditions or provide sufficient opportunity to present its case.

The utility argued that remote reconnections may be delayed due to temporary telecom outages, consumer-side disturbances, maintenance shutdowns and feeders remaining de-energised during repair work. Such instances, it said, should not automatically be classified as service failures.

Consumer Body Questions Legal Challenge

The appeal has drawn criticism from the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad (UPRVUP), which questioned the use of public funds to contest what it described as a relatively small penalty.

UPRVUP Chairperson Avadhesh Kumar Verma said, “The issue is about consumer rights, regulatory accountability and the use of public funds. If the penalty is deposited, the money goes to govt treasury. Govt must examine whether consumer funds should be used to challenge an order passed to protect consumers,” as quoted by TOI.

(KNN Bureau)