Important Note

The main Statutory Regulations under which the consumer can file an appeal to the Electricity Ombudsman are highlighted as below:-

Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum & Electricity Ombudsman) Regulations, 2006

16. Powers and Duties of the Electricity Ombudsman

The Electricity Ombudsman shall have the following powers and duties:

1. to receive from consumers, representations against orders of the Forum and consider such representations and facilitate their satisfaction or settlement by agreement, through conciliation and mediation between the Distribution Licensee and consumer or by passing an order in accordance with these Regulations;

17. Proceedings before the Electricity Ombudsman

17.2 Any consumer, who is aggrieved by the non-redressal of his Grievance by the Forum, may make a representation for redressal of his Grievance to the Electricity Ombudsman within sixty (60) days from the date of the order of the Forum.

Provided that the Electricity Ombudsman may entertain a representation after the expiry of the said period of sixty (60) days if he is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within the said period.

17.9 The Electricity Ombudsman shall not entertain a representation:

(a) unless the consumer has submitted a written representation in the specified form, to the Electricity Ombudsman;

(b) unless it has been shown to the Electricity Ombudsman that (i) the Forum has rejected the Grievance, or (ii) the Forum has not passed an order on the Grievance for its redressal within a maximum period of two (2) months from the date of receipt of the Grievance by the Forum, or (iii) there has been undue delay in the disposal of the Grievance by the Forum even after the period stated above;

(c) unless the representation against an order of the Forum was made within the period set out in these Regulations;

(d) unless the Electricity Ombudsman is satisfied that the representation is not in respect of the same subject matter that has been settled by him in any previous proceedings;

(e) where the representation by the consumer, in respect of the same Grievance, is pending in any proceedings before any court, tribunal or arbitrator or any other authority, or a decree or award or a final order has already been passed by any such court, tribunal, arbitrator or authority;

(f) unless the consumer has deposited in the stipulated manner, fifty percent of the amount, if any, that is required to be paid by him in terms of the order of the Forum or twenty-five thousand rupees whichever is less; and

(g) unless the person who claims compensation from the Distribution Licensee has paid such fees as may be stipulated by the Commission from time to time.