Saturday, November 10, 2007

Consumer Activists protest against Power companies

Here is the full text of a Press Release from CERS:
ELECTRICITY COMPANIES ENDANGERING LIVES OF CONSUMERS

The Ahmedabad based Consumer Education and Research Society has filed a petition before Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission against State owned four Distribution Companies and Chief Electrical Inspector for violation of Electricity Rule-33 of Indian Electricity Rules-1956 which mandates provision of separate earth terminals atthe premises of residential and commercial consumers.

The existing practice of providing earth terminal from solidly grounded neutral at transformer end is out dated and does not fulfill provision of Electricity Rule - 33. These DISCOMS continue to follow old and obsolete 'TT' system of earthing, that too not fully wherein case of earth fault MCB/fuse at consumers' premises remains as show piece and will not cut of power supply of consumer.

The new and safe 'TNCS' or 'TNS' systems of earthing provides better safety to consumers' lives and property against electric shock/fire/voltage related damages. The private Distribution Companies in Gujarat follow this new system of earthing since ages. .pa

During last hearing on 30th August 2007 before Hon'ble Commission the monitoring agency i.e. office of Chief Electrical Inspectorate and four Discoms of Gujarat submitted that the cost of providing separate earth terminals will cost Rs.300/- to each consumer putting a burden of Rs.275 crores on four DISCOMS.

CERS strongly objected to this proposal and representated before GERC that these DISCOMS have already collected the amount while providing new connections to consumers under the head of Service Line Charges but failed to provide separate earth terminals to consumers' premises violating Rule-33. Therefore the consumers are not liable to pay any amount and the cost has to be borne by DISCOMS.

The Hon'ble Commission reprimanded and directed CEI and all DISCOMS to study the system prevailing at Torrent Power and resolve this issue by implementing Rule 33 of IER-1956 and submit Action Taken Report to GERC before 15th October 2007.

CERS was representated by Shri K K Bajaj (Hon Director) and Shri V.J.Vachharajani (Consultant).

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Since we moved up here to Hesperia, CA.in 1971 the electric telephone post out front had capacitors and other equipment on it and a rumbling noise was constantly in the bedroom wall from them. Southern California Edison Electric Co. people came out here after we called them back in the 1980's and put a smaller post in the driveway to alleviate the noise. That solved that particular problem at that time. In 1992 a couple days after my mother died the equipment was removed from the telephone post out front. But a couple months ago in Feb. 2008 they re-installed similar and more elaborate things on the post out front. There is a high pitched constant drone noise and a low rumbling noise coming from them which can be heard when lying down trying to sleep and also can be heard in other rooms in the house. I complained and SCE came out here and claimed there was nothing wrong with their equipment. At first they tried to sell me on the idea the noises were conming from a neighbors vent on there roof which is completely untrue. The next time they came out here and replaced their meter because they thought maybe it was the meter making the noises which it wasn't. The next time they came out to check it they claimed it was the visor on my mercury light in my driveway making the noises which isn't causing it. They have been out here about 6 times and want to ignore the fact which is the noise is coming from their telephone post. I have a picture of this elaborate torture machine eqiupment which goes straight to the brain. They may claim the equipment is for a certain thing, however, I suspect the equipment is being used for ulterior motives. I think the American public should be aware of what the electric companies are using their equipment for. James Hennessey