Complacent Energy dept shuns Sakaala

Despite being one of the agencies receiving maximum consumer complaints, the State Energy department is not inclined to bring its services under Sakaala “as it is already being monitored by a regulatory commission.”

As many as 18 departments have brought their services under Karnataka Sakaala Services Act, 2011, where services under various schemes are being delivered within a stipulated time, besides redressing consumer grievances.

The Energy department, however, is unwilling to do the same, said Sakaala Mission director Shalini Rajneesh.

“There are several complaints that consumer grievances are not being redressed effectively, and despite repeated requests to bring its services under Sakaala, the department hasn’t done so. The department has said it is being monitored by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), which is disposing of cases and levying penalty. There is, however, an impression that the officials are not being held accountable. This needs to be reversed,” she said.

Rajneesh said Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, too, had broached the matter with the department and had sought a report outlining the reasons why it shouldn’t be brought under Sakaala. The department is yet to submit its report.

Bescom managing director P Manivannan said he did not want to bring his company’s services under Sakaala as it would cause “confusion.” “Firstly, there is 98 per cent redressal of consumer grievances in Bescom. Secondly, there is already an appellate authority (KERC) which is addressing disputes. If we bring the services under Sakaala, then there will be a parallel body, leading to confusion. Consumer engagement should have a common procedure. Hence, we have sought the government to have one appellate authority,” he said.

Advocate Sridhar Prabhu, who handles cases related to electricity supply, said the Energy department’s argument held no water because consumer disputes were not being effectively redressed by the department, regardless of its claims. “It’s just a farce if the department claims that it is being regulated in its entirety. To date, it has been difficult to establish how many complaints have been received by the escoms and how many have been redressed and disposed of. In fact, the department should have been the first to come forward and bring its services under Sakaala,” he said.

Prabhu said there was no provision for the Commission to adjudicate disputes between consumers and escoms, which was all the more a reason for the department to become more transparent.

KERC chairperson M R Srinivasamurthy said the commission was indeed adjudicating power disputes. “If disputes between consumers and escoms are not addressed by the Consumer Forum Redressal Forum, then it comes before the Commission’s ombudsman which adjudicates a dispute. But as chairperson of KERC, I will not be able to comment on whether or not to bring the department’s services under Sakaala. It is a matter to be settled between the government and the department,” he said.