Do the rules apply differently for those who are meant to uphold the law? This seems so with regard to the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). As per the rules, a consumer occupying a premises must have a power supply agreement with Bescom. Interestingly, the regulators themselves have not registered with the power utility. There have been several instances, when small business consumers operating out of a building have been backbilled as they had no separate agreement. Often enough, companies take office space on lease but during such transitions, the meter address is mostly not changed; for this, consumers are penalised.
Interestingly, an RTI enquiry revealed that the office space occupied by the KERC and also of the ombudsman has clearly flouted all such dictates. The enquiry revealed that KERC has no power supply agreement with Bescom, instead it is in the name of Mr Shivaram, whose address is also incomplete. A statutory body, the KERC’s office is situated on M.G. Road on the 6th and 7th floors of Mahalaxmi Chambers and has a commercial power consumer connection. Several Bescom officials including the managing directors of all five Escoms visit the place, but till now, no one have brought up this issue. Further, the commission is responsible for regulating all aspects of the electricity sector and has the powers of a civil court.
In its reply, Bescom seems to agree that it is alright for the KERC not to have a separate power purchase agreement. “If the owner has taken the connection, it is not necessary,” said Bescom managing director P. Manivannan. Making a case, advocate Shridhar Prabhu told Deccan Chronicle, “If what the KERC and Ombudsman are doing, is termed legal, then Bescom should not book any cases against its consumers who may, for bonafide reasons, avail power supply from Bescom though they do not have any agreement with Bescom and other Escoms across Karnataka. This will put off thousands of cases filed against innocent consumers, alleging unauthorised use.”