Consumer Grievance Redressal Forums (CGRF)
In line with the Electricity Act, 2003 and the Regulations made thereunder known as Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Electricity Ombudsman) Regulations, 2006, the following are the step by step legal remedies available to the electricity consumers to redress their grievance:-
Internal Grievance Redressal Cell (IGR Cell)
Internal Grievance Redressal Cell (IGR Cell), as formed by the Distribution Licensee, is the first authority where aggrieved consumer has to submit his grievance.
Click here for List of IGR Cell
Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (Forum)
In the event that a consumer is not satisfied with the remedy provided by the IGR cell to his grievance within 2 months from the date of filing such grievance or where no remedy has been provided within such period, the consumer may submit his grievance in the prescribed format to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (Forum), within a period of 24 months of the date on which cause of grievance has arisen.
In the event that a consumer is not satisfied with the remedy provided by the IGR Cell to his Grievance within a period of two (2) months from the date of intimation or where no remedy has been provided within such period, the consumer may submit the Grievance to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).
Appointment of CGRF Member on nominiation by MERC:
Eligibilty Conditions Conditions and Selection Criteria
Electricity Ombudsman
If the consumer is not satisfied with the Order passed by the Forum or did not get the Order within 2 months from the date of filing the Grievance with the Forum, then he may file representation before the Electricity Ombudsman in the prescribed format, within 60 days from the date of the order of the Forum. There are two nos. of Electricity Ombudsman in Maharashtara State as follows:
Electricity Ombudsman (Mumbai) for Mumbai, Mumbai Suburbs, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Solapur, Sangali, Satara, Pune, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar and Nandurbar Districts, and
Electricity Ombudsman (Nagpur) for Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Yeotmal, Washim, Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Chandarapur, Gondia, Latur, Beed, Nanded, Osmanabad, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli.
Grievances within the following categories are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Forum and Electricity Ombudsman:
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Unauthorized use of electricity as provided under section 126 of the Electricity Act, 2003;
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Offences and penalties as provided under sections 135 to 139 of the Electricity Act, 2003;
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Accident in the Distribution, supply or use of electricity as provided under section 161 of the Electricity Act, 2003; and
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Recovery of arrears where the bill amount is not disputed.
Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
Under Regulation 22 of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum and Electricity Ombudsman) Regulations, 2006, in case of non-compliance of any order or direction by the Distribution Licensee or the person required by the order or direction to do so and within the time frame stipulated in the order or directions, issued by the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum/ Electricity Ombudsman the Commission may initiate proceedings suo motu or on a complaint filed by any person to impose penalty or prosecution proceeding under sections 142 and 149 of the Electricity Act, 2003.