Petition No. 126/MP/2014. Case: Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers Association Vs Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited and Ors.. Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

Case NumberPetition No. 126/MP/2014
CounselFor Appellant: Arun, Shagufa Salim and Santanam Swaminadhan, Advocates
JudgesGireesh B. Pradhan, Chairperson and A.K. Singhal and A.S. Bakshi, Members
IssueElectricity Act, 2003 - Sections 177, 181, 50, 73, 79 (1) (i), 79 (1)(h), 86
Judgement DateApril 29, 2015
CourtCentral Electricity Regulatory Commission

Order:

  1. The petitioner, Tamil Nadu Electricity Consumers' Association, has filed the present petition seeking a clarification that the Central Electricity Authority (Technical Standard for Connectivity to the Grid) Regulations, 2007 (CEA Grid Standards Regulations) are not applied to High Tension (HT) consumers availing supply through 11 kV/22 kV supply lines and for consequential relief.

    Background of the case:

  2. The petitioner is an Association of HT electricity consumers. The members of Association avail the supply of electricity from Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO). The petitioner has submitted that CEA Grid Standards Regulations were notified by Central Electricity Authority in 2007. The petitioner has further submitted that TANGEDCO under the guise of enforcing CEA Grid Standards Regulations directed all the HT consumers in the State of Tamil Nadu, including the members of the petitioner to install harmonic controls irrespective of the supply line capacity by which they are connected. TANGEDCO has also started imposing 15% surcharge as penalty in their supply bills in case of HT consumers who have failed to install necessary equipment. Subsequently, one of the Associations of HT consumers of Tamil Nadu, namely Tamil Nadu Spinning Mills Association sought information under the Right to Information Act, 2005 from Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) as to whether the obligation of installing harmonic control equipment would be applicable to all categories of HT consumers irrespective of the capacity of the supply line by which they are connected. In response, TNERC vide its letter dated 28.5.2012 clarified that the obligation for reduction of harmonics is restricted to distribution systems and bulk consumers. The petitioner has submitted that CEA Grid Standard Regulations defines 'bulk consumer' as one who avails supply from 33 kV or above. The petitioner has submitted that despite the clarification by TNERC, TANGEDCO vide its letter dated 25.9.2013 maintained that CEA Grid Standards Regulations are applicable Regulations but went on it add that these regulations are applicable to distribution systems and as the words 'distribution system' have not been defined, it shall be taken as any consumer connected to a distribution system irrespective of the voltage level.

  3. The petitioner has submitted that such an interpretation is wrong and would bring all electricity consumers under the obligation of harmonic suppression including domestic consumers. If this could be the real intention of the CEA Grid Standards Regulations, then the regulations would not have specified the persons on whom the obligation is imposed as 'distribution system and bulk consumers'. The regulations...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT