SALES MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS PART-1 Revised up to

Transcription

1 HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LIMITED (A STATE GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKING) SALES MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS PART-1 Revised up to Registered Office: VIDYUT BHAWAN, HPSEB Ltd., SHIMLA (HP)

2 Instruction No 1 INDEX Subject 2 Page No. 3 SECTION I-GRANT OF ELECTRIC CONNECTION (Instructions No. 1 to 21) 1 Receipt of application and acknowledgement. 6 2 Posting of application in service register and Maintaining separate Seniority Lists. 8 3 Procedure for fixing Seniority for electric 10 connection/change process 4 Verification of connected load 12 5 Issuance of Power Availability Certificate (PAC) 13 6 Sanction of Load 22 7 Intimation of Acceptance of Application, issuing of 29 demand Notice & Execution of Agreement 8 Disposal of Pending/unfeasible Applications Receipt of duly complied demand notice, Agreement 31 form, test report & other relevant documents 10 Release of connection vis-à-vis shortage of material Supply of power to Local Bodies for Public Lighting Allotting Account Number Recording of Consumer Cases Custody of Consumer Cases Supply of electricity to residential colonies either 40 developed by HIMUDA or Pvt. Developers/Builders with registration and licence from Competent Authority under TCP Act. 16 Measurement of service lines Peak Load Hours Supply Reduction/Enhancement of connected load or 42 Contract Demand on permanent basis 19 Temporary revision in Contract Demand Change of Name/Title Connected load register (From CS-24) - Directions for use 51 SECTION II-METERING AND METER RENTALS (Instruction No ) 22 Providing Energy Meter, Meter Security & Rentals Meter Sealing Recording of meter reading of different categories of consumers 57 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page ii

3 Instruction No 1 Subject 2 Page No Procedure to be followed when a meter is reported 58 to be damaged or burnt. 26 Difference or dispute over the accuracy of energy 61 meter and overhauling of consumer accounts 27 Testing charges if the meter is got tested from 62 HPSEBL Laboratories. 28 Compliance of meter change orders Replacement of defective and dead stop meters at consumers premises utilization procedure for new meters, old T&P static meters and repaired T&P static meters 63 SECTON III PREPARATION & DELIVERY OF BILLS ( Instruction No ) 30 Electricity Bills Issue, presentation and due date of the bill Procedure to be followed when issue of bill is 67 delayed. 33 Delivery of bills to the consumers Bills of consumers whose premises are found locked 68 at the time of meter reading. 35 Payment of Bills and Disputed Electricity Bills 69 SECTION IV-RECOVERY OF UNPAID DUES FROM THE CONSUMERS ( Instruction No ) 36 Disconnection and reconnection/restoration of 72 Supply 37 Disconnection when consumer(s) premises are 76 found locked, order of statutory authority & on account of damage to equipments 38 Recovery of Arrears from Defaulting Consumers - 77 Procedure for monitoring & recovery of the defaulting amount. 39 Payment of arrears not originally billed Dispute Settlement Committees of HPSEBL 84 SECTION V UNAUTHORIZED USE/THEFTOF ELECTRICITY (Instruction No ) 41 Unauthorized use of Electricity -section 126 of the Electricity Act Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page iii

4 Instruction No 1 Subject 2 Page No Theft of Electricity - Section 135 of the Electricity 89 Act Guidelines for prevention of theft of electricity and 94 unauthorized use of electricity 44 Maintenance of register for checking & detecting 97 theft of energy cases. 45 Operation of Enforcement wing Grant of incentives to the persons for giving 99 information regarding theft of energy 47 Issue of Identity Cards to Flying Squad Units/Meter 100 Inspectors and Officers/Field technical Staff under operation wing 48 Duties and functions of Enforcement wing Responsibility of Field Staff to check Theft of Energy 102 SECTION VI-MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS [Instruction No ] 50 Procedure to be followed in the submission of a 103 copy of the Judgment of a Court to Head Office. 51 Intimation of Shut down of supply Improvement of Power Factor Authorization of Legal Documents To Sanction Dismantlement of Service Connection Distribution Performance Standards Applicability of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for 112 supply of Electricity) Regualtions,2005 or CEA(Measures related to Safety and Electricity Supply) Regulations,2010 as amended from time to time Overriding effect CONDITIONS OF SUPPLY 113 SOME IMPORTANT STATUTORY PROVISIONS 153 SOME ESSENTIAL TERMS IN COMMON USAGE 170 SOME OF THE REGULATIONS/CODE NOTIFIED BY HPERC HPERC (Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on Request) Regulations, 2004 HPERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, 2005 Himachal Pradesh Electricity Supply Code HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page iv

5 Instruction No 1 Subject 2 electricity) Regulations, 2012 HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations, 2010 HPERC (Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) Regulation, 2013 ABBREVIATIONS Page No Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page v

6 HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LIMITED SALES MANUAL & OTHER CONDITIONS OF SUPPLY SECTION-I Grant of Electric connection INSTRUCTION No.1 Receipt of Application and Acknowledgement: 1.1 All the prospective consumers have to enter into an agreement with the HPSEB Ltd., on the standard Application and Agreement Form C.S-1(a) obtainable free of cost from the local/ designated office of the HPSEBL. The Application & Agreement form can also be downloaded from HPSEBL website i.e. The Application duly completed by the prospective consumer accompanying requisite documents should be presented in the local office of HPSEB Ltd. provided that in case where the contract demand for new or additional load exceeds 100 kva the consumer shall apply for PAC (Power Availability Certificate) before applying for electricity connection. The Consumer shall submit the PAC along with A&A form for sanction of load. For details regarding PAC, please refer to Instruction No. 5 of this sales manual. The consumer may also apply online through HPSEBL website or portal.hpseb.in and deliver the hard copy of original application and agreement form, alongwith the other requisite documents in the local office of HPSEB Ltd. 1.2 As soon as an application on the standard form from a prospective consumer is received, it will be scrutinized by the authorized HPSEBL official and any shortcoming noticed therein, should be immediately got rectified from the applicant. The receiving clerk should see that all the columns mentioned in the application are properly filled in and the items which are not applicable are scored out to avoid confusion. Following precautions shall be taken while signing/scrutiny of the Application and agreement Form:- 1) A&A form should be filled in and signed by the authorized signatory of both the parties. 2) There shall be no-overwriting or cutting in the A&A form. Corrections, if any, should be signed/ authenticated by the executants. 3) Each page of the A&A form shall be signed /stamped by the executants. 4) Authorized Signatory signing agreement shall arrange his/her identity proof as mentioned in the A&A form/checklist. 5) A&A form must be signed by the prospective consumer in the presence of AE/AEE/SDC in the sub-division and AAE Incharge in the Sub-Office. The aforesaid official shall ensure that A&A form has been filled in correctly and no ambiguity exists 6) The minor applicant is not eligible to sign the agreement. However, he/she can avail the connection through his/her lawful/natural guardian. 7) The A&A form is also required to be signed by the witness as an essential formality before it is accepted. The witness shall always be one of the HPSEBL s consumer by filling the requisite details as provided in the A&A form. 1.3 The updated list of documents which shall be obtained along with the A&A form is available on HPSEBL website i.e. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 6

7 1.4 Additional Conditions for providing Connection to Industries The proposals for setting up an industrial undertaking are undertaken by Industrial Departments at Head Office and GM (Industries), Local SWCA/DICs etc. The State Level Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority (SLSWC&MA) approves the following project proposals:- Proposal received for setting up of Large Scale Sector or their expansion [ i.e. projects exceeding investment of Rs. 10 Cr or above in Plant & Machinery or as may be notified by the State Govt. from time to time.] Proposals received which are listed Negative Industries by the State Government under its applicable Industrial Policy as notified from time to time. Forest produce based Industry The power availability certificate shall be issued to the industrial units only after the proposal for setting up of the industrial undertaking has been approved by Industry Department. Similarly the sanction of load in respect of the industrial units which do not require PAC (Contract demand <=100 kva) shall also be done after approval from Industry Department For the industrial undertaking which requires approval of State Level Single Window Clearance & Monitoring Authority (SLSWC&MA) as listed above, no action for either for issuance of PAC or for sanction of load shall be taken by the filed officers of HPSEBL unless it has been approved by SLSWC&MA. For ready reference of the HPSEBL field offices, following is the list of negative listed industry issued by the State Govt.:- 1. Tobacco and tobacco products including cigarettes and pan masala 2. Thermal Power Plant (coal/oil based) 3. Coal washeries/dry coal processing 4. Inorganic Chemicals excluding medicinal grade oxygen ( ), medicinal grade hydrogen peroxide ( ), compressed air ( ) 5. Organic Chemicals excluding Provitamins/vitamins, Hormones (29.36), Glycosides (29.39), Sugars (29.40)(reproduction by synthesis not allowed as also downstream industries) 6. Tanning and dyeing extracts, tannins and their derivatives, dyes, colours, paints and varnishes, putty, fillers and other mastics, inks 7. Marble and mineral substances not classified elsewhere. 8. Flour Mill/Rice Mill (including Roller flour mills) 9. Foundries using coal. 10. Minerals fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; Bituminous substances, mineral waxes. 11. Synthetic rubber products 12. Cement Clinker and Asbestos raw including fibre. 13. Explosive (including industrial explosives, detonators & fuses, fireworks, matches, propellant powders etc.) 14. Mineral or chemical fertilizers 15. Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides & pesticides (basic manufacture and formulation) 16. Fibre glass & articles thereof 17. Manufacture of pulp-wood pulp, mechanical or chemical (including dissolving pulp) Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 7

8 18. Branded aerated water/soft drinks (non-fruit based ) 19. Paper Writing or printing paper, Paper or paperboard, Maplitho paper, Newsprint, in rolls or sheets, Craft paper, Sanitary towels, Cigarette paper, Grease-proof paper, toilet or facial tissue, Paper & paper board, laminated internally with bitumen, tar or asphalt, Carbon or similar copying paper, products consisting of sheets of paper or paperboard, impregnated, coated or covered with plastics, Paper and paperboard, coated impregnated or covered with wax etc. 20. Plastics and articles thereof. 21. Production of firewood and charcoal. 22. Mini Steel plants induction/ Arc/Submerged furnaces, and/ or rolling mills Note: - (i) The Govt. Departments are exempted from the levy of stamp duty vide Section 3 of the Indian Stamp Act. Accordingly the Govt. Departments, including Railways are not required to stamp the Agreement or any other documents for supply of power. The local bodies, Municipal Committees and Panchayats etc. have, however, not been granted any such exemption and they are, therefore, required to execute all the agreements on the Non-judicial stamp paper of appropriate value. (ii) (iii) (iv) It would be advisable to obtain a self-certified copy of the partnership deed along with a letter of attorney signed by all the partners in the name of person executing the agreement and signing other allied documents on behalf of a Partnership Firm. If, however, the firm is registered one, no letter of attorney is required, if the agreement is signed by one of the partners, but if the signatory is other than the partner letter of attorney should be obtained. The above procedure shall also be applicable for temporary metered supply connections. In case of conditional NOC or NOC given for a specific period by the competent authority, it shall be the sole responsibility of the consumer to keep the NOC updated. And in case brought to the notice of the concerned field units by the issuing authority, the connection is liable to be disconnected without any notice to the consumer. However, in case the consumer applies for extension of load or transfer of title etc., the field units should exercise a check of such validity of approvals etc. The concerned AE/AEE of ESD shall also prepare a list of such cases control and monitoring. 1.5 After verification of the documents submitted by the applicant as detailed above, the applicant shall be issued acknowledgement of receipt of load sanction case on the format available with A&A form. In case the load sanction is within the competency of Sub- Division, the same may be sanctioned by AE/AEE concerned and in case it falls in the competency of higher officers in the hierarchy, the same be forwarded to the quarter concerned. INSTRUCTION No. 2 Posting of Application in Service Register and Maintaining Separate Seniority Lists: Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 8

9 2.1 The authorized official after scrutiny of the A&A form shall enter full particulars of the application in the Service Register (Form CS-2) in ink except the load applied for, which should be entered in pencil. 2.2 The applications for all categories of applicants, whether for permanent or temporary connections, should be entered in the same Service Register in the order in which these are received. In other words, separate Service Registers (or sections of the same Register) should not be maintained for various categories of consumers or the different groups of consumers (i.e. groups classified according to the particular sub-station to which consumer may be respectively connected.) 2.3 The authorized official will then enter the Application No. and date of receipt as per entry in the service register on the application form in the space prescribed for it and acknowledge the receipt of the same to the applicant by filling the requisite particulars in the Acknowledge slip at the end of A&A form and signing the slip. This acknowledgement shall form the basis of all future correspondence between the HPSEB Ltd./licensee and the applicant till the connection is actually released. 2.4 Following symbols should be used to distinguish between the various categories of applicants: Domestic Supply DS Non-Domestic-Non- Commercial Supply NDNCS Commercial Supply CS Small Industrial Power Supply SIP Medium Industrial Power Supply MIP Large Industrial Power Supply LIPS Irrigation and Drinking Water Power Supply IDWPS Agricultural Power Supply APS Street Lighting Supply SLS Bulk Supply BS Temporary Metered Supply TMS Railway Traction RT 2.5 If the temporary connection is applied for by an existing permanent consumer, it should be treated as a separate application and be entered as such in the Service Register. 2.6 Keeping Applicants Informed about the status of the Application: All enquiries from the prospective consumers in respect of the disposal of their applications for grant of electric connections should be promptly responded. The consumer should be informed of the action taken on his application as well as its present whereabouts viz. the name of the office to which it has been forwarded and the date on which it has been dispatched. The consumers who have applied online for the electrical connection can check the status of their application on the HPSEBL website by using the Request No. provided to them at the time of application. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 9

10 2.7 With a view to ensure that release of connections for different categories of applicants is rational, separate seniority list shall be made out from the service register for each category of applicants as per Instruction No. 3 below. 2.8 The applications for a connection in a sub-division which has been computerized, the computerized acknowledgement should be given to the applicant mentioning the details of tracking of applications in addition to details of application. INSTRUCTION No. 3 Procedure for fixing Seniority for electric connection/ change process: In order to comply with law of natural justice i.e. first come first served procedure laid down below should generally be followed for the disposal of applications for electric connections:- 3.1 All connections will be released within the time schedule specified in the HPERC(Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on request) Regualtions,2004 For sake of reference, the gist of the HPERC(Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on request) Regulations,2004 is reproduced as under:- Sr. Activity Time Frame No. 1 Release of connection From the date of completion of codal formalities and payment of charges & security a) Where no extension of 15 days [Note- A] distribution mains or (7 days for temporary connection) commissioning of new Sub- Station is required b) In cases where such extension of distribution mains or commissioning of new substation is required but there is no requirement of erection and commissioning of a new 33/11 kv Sub-Station or above c) Where extension of supply requires erection and commissioning of new 33/11 kv or above Sub-Stations Low Tension (LT) Supply : 40 days 11 kv Supply : 30 days 22 kv Supply : 30 days 33 kv Supply : 60 days Extra High Tension (EHT) Supply As approved by the Commission. : 120 days Important Note: A. The time limit for release of connection in the serial no. a) of the table above, where no extension of distribution mains or commissioning of new substation is required, has been reduced to 15 days as per Ease of doing Business guidelines and the same has to be followed by field units of HPSEBL for releasing connections. B. For temporary connections, the applicant will be provided supply according to the following timelines: - i) Where extension of the distribution mains or the commissioning of the new sub-station is involved, within the timelines as per HPERC Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 10

11 (Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on Request) Regulations, 2004 Detailed process in this regard may be seen in HPERC (Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on Request) Regulations, 2004 as amended from time to time. 3.2 Seniority in respect of applications for connections will be maintained in separate queues as under:- Queue No.1: Where no extension of Distribution mains or commissioning of new Sub-Station is required. Queue No.2: Where extension of distribution main or commissioning of new sub-station is required but there is no requirement of erection and commissioning of a new 33/11 kv Sub-Station or above. Queue No.3: Where extension of supply requires erection of HT line. Queue No.4:Where extension of supply requires erection and commissioning of new 33/11 kv or above Sub-Stations. 3.3 All the applications shall be dealt with in the order of seniority. This will comprise sanction of load, preparation of estimate and sanction thereof. 3.4 The AE/AEE should accord sanction to all such cases which may be in his competency and forward the rest of the complete cases to the next higher authority. Each authority (Sr.E.E./SE/CE) should accord sanction in respect of the loads/cd within their competency as per delegation and recommend rest of the cases to next higher authorities on the space provided in the A&A form with dated signature. 3.5 On receipt of the sanctioned cases in the Sub Division/Sub-Office, issue of demand notices will again be as per original category-wise seniority in a particular queue. 3.6 The seniority for the purpose of issue of Service Connection Order should be reckoned from the date the applicant complies with the demand notice. The seniority of such consumers, who complete the formalities on the same day, should be determined on the basis of original seniority of their applications. 3.7 It may, however, not be always possible to follow the procedure laid down above strictly in all cases and, accordingly, the same is to be taken as general guidelines. In actual practice there may be certain other factors, technical or financial, which may necessitate deviation from the procedure outlined above. For instance, there may be case in which augmentation or erection of mains and/or sub-station is involved or where some special material required for the erection of sub-station. H.T. or L.T. lines may not be available. In such cases, other applications or cases waiting till the applications referred to above are connected first. The main consideration is that all the connections should be given expeditiously and within the timelines specified in the HPERC Regulations and no discrimination should be made between the applicants under the same circumstances. The connections have to be given within time lines as per the HPERC Regulations. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 11

12 Verification of Connected Load: INSTRUCTION No The actual load requirements of load of prospective consumer/applicant will be entered in the A&A form/requisition form attached with the A&A form. The actual requirements of the load of the consumer should be carefully estimated through personal visit of JE/AAE to the premises where the electric connection is required within the time frame specified for this purpose. The definition of connected load as provided in the H.P. Electricity Supply Code [ Ref. Clause ] must be kept in mind while verifying the connected load. This visit should also cover the requirements of material for preparation of inventory for the material required for each service connection. It should be ensured that the entries of the load in the application for supply of electricity are based on the actual requirement and in case of discrepancy necessary corrections should be made. In determining the actual load requirements, the following guidelines shall be kept in view:- 4.2 It should be ensured that the entries of the load in the relevant columns of the application form are based on actual rating of device/apparatus connected to the wiring. If, however, the actual rating of any of the energy consuming apparatus connected with the system is not known/ or not visible, the load may be assessed on the following standard wattages for Domestic and general load of other categories of consumers:- Description Domestic Supply Commercial & NDNC Supply General load of other categories Light Point 60 Watts each 80 Watts each 80 Watts each Fan Point 80 Watts each 100 Watts each 100 Watts each Radiator (Small) 1000 Watts 1000 Watts each 1000 Watts each each Radiator(large) 2000 Watts each 2000 Watts each 2000 Watts each All sockets for light and Fan(5A) 60 Watts each 80 Watts each 80 Watts each Power Sockets(15 A) 1000 Watts each Air Conditioner 2500 Watts each 1000 Watts each 2000 Watts each As per rating mentioned in name plate As per rating mentioned in name plate NOTE: i) In case single switch is used for controlling more than one lamp/appliance, the sum of all the lamps/appliances shall be taken into account for connected load purposes. ii) In case the rating of windows/split air conditioner is not mentioned, the same may be taken as 2.5 kw. In case of domestic and NRS consumers, the air conditioners shall be permanently wired through miniature circuit breakers and isolators which are not controlled through power sockets. In case of existing domestic and NRS consumers, the excess load of AC s may be regularized with revised A&A form and after obtaining additional security Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 12

13 iii) and recovery of expenditure as per HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations, 2012 as amended from time to time. The actual load of the Geysers installed through power plug shall be taken and in absence of rating, the connected load may be taken as 2 kw in case of storage type Geysers and 3 kw in case of instant Water Heater. 4.3 Where the consumer has installed rectifier transformer for electrolysis, the connected load of the rectifier transformer shall be taken as a sum of ratings of motors/equipments on output side. Capacity of the rectifier transformer shall not exceed connected load by 20%. 4.4 The connected load of arc-furnace/ induction furnace shall be kva/kw rating of the furnace transformer feeding the furnace exclusively Where an induction furnace is fed from an independent transformer with sub-standard voltage rating i.e /570 volts etc. the capacity of the feeding transformer be taken as connected load. In case the capacity as kva or MVA, the same shall be converted to kw by taking a power factor of Where an induction furnace/rolling Mill is fed from a distribution transformer with standard voltage rating along with other general/ motive load from that very transformer, the connected load shall be the sum of the rating of furnace and motive/ other loads or the capacity of the feeding transformer whichever is higher. 4.5 Where welding sets are found/used in the premises of industrial units like rice shellers, spinning mills, cold storage, ice factories, atta-chakkies, flour mills, cotton spinning mills, oil mills etc. and where these are used for carrying out minor repairs to the machinery installed and where no job order or outside welding work is carried out, load of one welding set shall not be counted while working out the connected load. In case, more than one welding sets are existing/ installed in such factories, the welding set of lowest rating shall not be counted towards connected load and other welding sets shall be considered towards connected load. 4.6 Installation of three phase power sockets by NRS and Industrial consumers will not be allowed. In case found at site during inspection, the rating should be taken as 6 kw for the purpose of assessing un-authorised use/theft. 4.6 In case of computer centres, the computer systems connected through UPS, the rating of UPS indicated in kva will be converted into kw by multiplying with a power factor of 0.9. However, the sockets installed on output side of UPS will not be taken into account. INSTRUCTION No. 5 Issuance of Power Availability Certificate: 5.1 Where the contract demand for new or additional load exceeds 100kVA, the applicant will have to apply for the feasibility clearance certificate i.e. Power Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 13

14 Availability Certificate from HPSEBL before making the application for electric connection/ application for extension of load on the Application & Agreement form. The form of application for feasibility clearance/ PAC will be available free of cost in the designated offices of the HPSEB Ltd. and can also be downloaded from its website i.e As soon as the application for Power Availability Certificate is received by the concerned field units, the feasibility of feeding the load is to be examined by the operation wing/electrical System Wing as the case may be and the complete case alongwith feasibility report may be forwarded to the competent authority as per delegation of power for issuance of PAC. The competent authority shall issue demand notice for payment of advance cost share towards IDC as per Clause No. 3.2 of H.P. Electricity Supply Code,2009 as amended from time to time for payment within 60 days. The feasibility report shall be submitted on FORMAT-A Note:- In case of the Central and State Government/Government Agencies, if the applicant is willing to deposit in advance the entire estimated/actual cost of works including the service line, before the actual commencement of works required to be executed for supply of power and such estimated cost is more than the normative Infrastructural Development Charges (IDC) and cost of service line, the applicant shall not be required to make the separate payment of IDC under these regulations and charges towards advance cost share for getting Power Availability Certificate (PAC) under Himachal Pradesh Electricity Supply Code, The applicant has to deposit the demand notice charges for issuance of PAC within a period of sixty days failing which the commitments to supply power already intimated to industry department/or otherwise will be forfeited and consume has to apply for PAC afresh and the power shall be made available on the terms and conditions prevailing at the time of application for power. 5.4 The PAC shall be issued to the consumer within 30 days of deposit of amount of demand notice 5.5 The different Officers are competent to issue the PAC up to following extent: - Sr. No. Designation 1. Sr. E.E./ Addl.S.E. Incharge of Operation Division Delegation Of Powers for making power commitment Competent to make commitments on Voltage Connected load Contract Demand Upto 500 kw Upto 500 kva 1-ph. 230 V or 3-ph. 0.4 kv or 2.2 kv or 11 kv or 22 kv 2. S.E./ Dy.C.E. >500 kw to >500 kva to 3-ph. 11 kv or Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 14

15 Incharge of Operation Circle <=2000 kw <=2000 kva 22 kv 3. Chief Engineer (Op.) >2000 kw to <=3 MW >2000 kva to <=2.2 MVA 3-ph. 11 kv or 22 kv 4. Board Level Committee Managing Director, Director (Operation) and Director (Technical >3 MW >2.2 MVA 3-ph. 33 kv or All electric furnace(s) load of 100 kw and above with 66 kv or 132 kv or 220 kv contract demand of 100 kva and above. All loads containing steel rolling mills and rolling / rerolling mills. All loads at 33 kv and above 5. The PAC to negative listed industry and in the competency of SLSWC & MA is to be issued by CE (Comm.) in respect of the online Common Application Form system of the Industry Department developed by NIC, after confirmation of deposit of amount by the applicant as per online request ID generated by HPSEBL. However, the PAC in respect of offline Common Application Forms are to be issued by the concerned Sr. Executive Engineers of Operation Wing after authorization by CE(Comm.). Procedure followed for issuance of PAC in respect of the applications received through Common Application Form(Online) is as under:- i) The consumer apply for issuance of PAC alongwith the project proposal online on Single Window portal of Industry Deptt. ii) iii) iv) The Industry Department forward the application to all Departments including HPSEBL for comments on the proposal. The comments of HPSEBL is related to arrangement for supply of power. CE(Comm.) is nodal officer for intimation of comments to Industry Deptt. The proposal is forwarded to the concerned field units to examine the feasibility of feeding the load requisitioned by the unit and to supply the information within three days. v) After receipt of arrangement of feeding the load and after getting it approved from the competent authority, if required, the comments are uploaded to Single Window Portal. vi) After approval of SLSWC& MA, of the consumer apply for issuance of PAC through Single Window Portal online, demand is generated online and payment is made by the consumer through Credit Card/Debit Cards Net banking or offline/authorised payment gateway. The PAC is issued to the consumer after deposit of the requisite charges. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 15

16 Note: - (i) Power Availability Certificate (PAC) falling under the competence of HPSEB Ltd., shall be issued by concerned Chief Engineer (Operation) with the approval of the Committee. (ii) (iii) (iv) The consumer applying for contract demand less than 100 kva is generally not required to apply for PAC. However if the consumer requests for same as a formality for approval of their project, the same may be issued after completing all the codal formalities. In case where the consumer intends to increase the connected load by installation of additional plant of machinery without any change in the existing contract demand, the consumer is not required to obtain Power Availability Certificate and shall apply on A&A form for such additional load alongwith revised Test Report for sanction of the authority competent as per delegation of powers. However, in case of industrial consumers, the approval of Industry Department or Single Window as the case may be is required to be obtained by the consumer for expansion of the project. In case the standard supply voltage of the existing consumer get changed due to additional load or additional contract demand or both, the feasibility of feeding the entire demand may be examined at the higher supply voltage and rest of the procedure for issuance of PAC is same. 5.6 The PAC shall be valid for a period of three years or for such shorter period as may be mutually agreed upon by the HPSEBL and the applicant, provided that the validity period may be extended, from time to time, as may be mutually agreed upon by the applicant and HPSEBL. 5.7 The applicant shall, after grant of Power Availability Certificate (PAC) the applicant should complete the works required for release of connection and submit the application to give supply of electricity to the premises within the validity period of PAC with the connected load and contract demand by completing the codal formalities required for the sanction of load. HPSEBL shall adjust, the amount received as advance cost share deposit towards infrastructural development charges against amount recoverable under HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of electricity) Regulations, Provided that if the applicant submits application for a contract demand lesser than the contract demand for which Power Availability Certificate has been issued, the amount of advance cost share shall be adjusted as under :- (a) if the applicant intends to avail the On pro-rata basis. balance contract demand at a subsequent stage during the validity period of the Power Availability Certificate. (b) if the applicant expresses his intention not to take supply for the balance contract demand for which Power Availability Certificate was issued. Full amount of the advance cost share deposited by the applicant shall be adjusted after deducting therefrom 20% of the proportionate amount deposited Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 16

17 as advance cost share in respect of such contract demand as is not to be availed 5.8 Where the applicant who has been granted the Power Availability Certificate (PAC) fails to submit the application or declines to take supply for the full contract demand for which Power Availability Certificate was granted, within the validity period, the advance cost share, not adjusted as per 5.7 above, shall be refunded after deducting there from 20% of the proportionate amount of the advance cost share deposited in respect of the contract demand which is not to be availed. Illustration: If the Power Availability Certificate is issued for 3000 kva contract demand, but application is submitted or supply is taken only for 2000 kva contract demand, 20% of the advance cost share pertaining to 1000 kva contract demand shall be deducted. The refund of the refundable amount of advance cost share shall be made within 30 days from the expiry of validity period or from an earlier date on which such applicant expresses his intention not to take supply for full or part of the contract demand for which the Power Availability Certificate was issued and requests for refund of such amount. 5.9 The indicative terms and conditions to be intimated to the consumer at the time of PAC shall be as under:- The details of Power Availability Certificate such as Name of the Applicant, Location of the premises where power is required, purpose for which the power is required, the connected load (kw) and Contract demand (kva) of the load requisitioned by the applicant, supply voltage at which power will be made available and the feeding sub-station from where power shall be made available shall be mentioned in the starting paragraph of the PAC. The condition of construction of new sub-station or augmentation of existing sub-station for release of the load, if required, the same shall also be mentioned. 1) In case of drawl of Contract demand in excess of the Contract demand sanctioned, the firm will be liable to pay penalty for over drawl as notified from time to time. 2) The supply during peak load hours (6:30 PM to 10 PM) shall be governed by the additional conditions as specified in the H.P. Electricity Supply Code & Schedule of Tariff and Schedule of General & Service Charges approved by HPERC. 3) The consumer has to submit proof of ownership/occupancy of the premises for which electricity connection is being applied for. 4) Authorization to sign on behalf of company (i.e. Resolution of Board of Directors of the company, duly attested, authorizing the person to sign the papers / agreements on behalf of company along with attested signatures of the authorized person) should also be obtained and verified. A copy of the same be kept in the consumer file. 5) In case of applications for electric connections falling under Planning areas, Municipal Corporations, Nagar Panchayats and other local bodies where TCP Act, Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 17

18 1977 is applicable, the NOC from the local bodies is mandatory at the time of release of connection. 6) The power will be made available on the basis of self- certified declaration/ undertaking given by the consumer at the time of sanction of load. In case of nonfulfillment of statutory provisions/ approvals/ clearances from Govt. (Central/ State) Departments and other statutory bodies, the connection shall be disconnected without any notice, as agreed in the declaration/ undertaking. 7) It should be ensured before sanction of load that the security amount payable as per HPERC (Security Deposit)Regulations,2005 as amended from time to time, shall be got deposited with the concerned Sub Divisional Officer. The amount payable towards Security Deposit shall be in the form of Cash/ Demand Draft (D.D.) drawn in favour of the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer. The firm may opt to furnish the security in the form of Bank Guarantee in place of cash deposit where the amount payable towards security deposit exceeds Rs lac and the same shall remain valid during the period the agreement for supply of energy remains in force. The validity of BG in no case should be less than 3 years. 8) The consumer shall deposit cost towards Expenditure for Supply of Electricity as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations, 2012 and its amendments. 9) The cost of dedicated feeder /joint feeder along with bay and associated equipment at both ends, as the case may be, will have to be borne by the consumer as per provisions of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations, 2012 and its amendments. The cost of all these components will be intimated to the consumer by the Chief Engineer (Op.), / Chief Engineer(ES), as the case may be. 10) The cost of the whole or part of the service line/equipment paid by the consumer and maintained by the HPSEBL, shall remain the property of HPSEBL and HPSEBL shall have the right to make use of the service line/equipment for extending power supply to other consumer(s) in the vicinity or for any other purpose. 11) The consumer will have to build up the load to the extent of load sanctioned /contract demand within a period of two months of readiness of HPSEBL failing which the demand charges will be levied as per provision of H.P. Electricity Supply Code,2009 as amended from time to time. The metering of the consumer shall be done as per Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006 as amended from time to time. 12) During winter months i.e. from November to March, in case there is shortage of power, which otherwise is not a general phenomenon, the release of power will depend upon its availability. 13) No new supply to LT installations with induction motor(s) of capacity above 3 HP and /or welding transformers above 2 kva shall be given unless shunt capacitors of appropriate ratings are installed to the entire satisfaction of the HPSEBL. The consumer shall maintain a power factor of 0.9 lagging or above at all times. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 18

19 14) The consumer shall comply with the harmonics standards as specified by the Authority and for voltage levels for which harmonics standards have not been specified by the Authority, the user shall comply with the standards specified in the relevant International Electrical and Electronic Engineers regulations. In case of failure to comply the specified standards, action shall be taken as per Clause No of H.P. Electricity Supply Code, ) The consumer shall abide by the provisions of Electricity Act,2003, all applicable laws, conditions of supply, General Conditions of Tariff and Schedule of Tariff, Supply Code, rules, regulations, orders, Directives, Notifications issued and enforced under applicable laws by HPERC/CEA/Govt. of India/Govt. of H.P. and any other instructions/circulars issued by HPSEB Ltd. from time to time, and as amended from time to time, for equitable and efficient distribution of electric energy. 16) The HPSEBL reserves the right to impose any restrictions depending upon the loading conditions of the feeding substation and availability of power as may deem fit to regulate the supply in the most efficient manner. 17) It is mandatory for the consumer to use BEE star labeled (with minimum 4 star rating) Motorpump sets, and ISI/BIS marked power capacitors, foot/reflex valves etc. as per Govt. of H.P., MPP & Power Deptt. Order No. Vidyut-C(7)-1/2008 dated and its amendment dated ) The Power Availability Certificate shall remain valid for a period of three years from date of its issuance. Other specific conditions of line/sub-station to be commissioned, or any other case specific conditions shall also be included while issuing the PAC to the consumer Standard Supply Voltage/ Supply Voltage: Depending upon the minimum and maximum limits of contract demand (or connected load in case of domestic supply) the character of supply shall be as per the relevant provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Supply Code, 2009, as amended from time to time. The relevant provisions are as below: Standard Supply Voltage/ Supply Voltage: The standard supply voltage shall mean the standard voltage at which electricity shall be given to the consumer through a common or dedicated or joint dedicated feeder without payment of any lower voltage supply surcharge (LVSS). Depending upon the connected load(kw or MW), contract demand (kva or MVA), nature of load and existence of a voltage (volts/kv) and phase in the relevant distribution system, the standard supply voltage for a consumer shall be as provided in clauses (a) and (b) of this para and para (a) The maximum limits of connected load (kw or MW) and contract demand (kva or MVA) for the supply of power at a voltage, shall be as under- Sr. No. Standard Supply Voltage Maximum Connected Load Maximum Contract Demand Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 19

20 1. Single phase 230 volts or three phase 50 kw 50 kva 415 volts or 2.2 kv; (for supplies not involving special category loads) 2. Three phase 11 kv or 22 kv; 3 MW 2.2 MVA (for supplies not involving special category loads) 3. Three phase 33 kv 12 MW 10 MVA 4. Three phase 66 kv 14 MW 12 MVA 5. Three phase 132 kv or 220 kv No limits Provided that where special category loads are involved, the standard supply voltage shall be 11 kv or 22 kv, as may exist on the relevant distribution system, if (i) the total connected load does not exceed 1 MW, irrespective of special category loads; or (ii) the total quantum of connected load in respect of special category loads does not exceed 750 kw within the overall limit of total connected load upto 3 MW and total contract demand upto 2.2 MVA: Provided further that, if neither of the limits given in the first proviso, in relation to supplies involving special category loads, are adhered to, the standard supply voltage shall be 33 kv or the appropriate higher voltage in accordance with the limits specified in this clause: Provided further that where a consumer having connected load of not more than 50 kw is already getting supply at LT voltage immediately before commencement of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Supply Code (First Amendment) Regulations, 2014, he shall continue to be covered under a LT standard voltage (i.e. single phase 230 volts or three phase 415 volts) irrespective of contract demand already sanctioned in his favour, so long as he does not further extend his connected load or contract demand beyond the specified limits of 50 kw or 50 kva respectively: Provided further that where a consumer is getting supply at a voltage higher than the standard supply voltage as per the said specified limits, he shall continue to get supply at such higher voltage without any rebate for higher voltage supply. (b) Where the connected load or contract demand exceeds the relevant ceiling limit specified in clause (a), the appropriate higher voltage at which both such limits can be adhered to, shall be considered as standard supply voltage and there shall be no minimum limits for supply of power at a particular voltage Supply at Lower Voltage: Where the consumer seeks supply of power at a voltage lower than the standard supply voltage as per para (5.10.1), the licensee shall supply power at such lower voltage subject to the maximum limits of connected load and contract demand as specified in this para; payment of lower voltage supply surcharge (LVSS) by the consumer at the rates given in the tariff order applicable from time to time; and other conditions, as may be relevant, specified in this para or in para (5.10.3) and as per the provisions of the Supply Code :- Sr. No. Supply Voltage Description Maximum Connected Maximum Contract Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 20

21 1. 11 kv (for supplies not involving special category loads) kv (for supplies not involving special category loads) (a) If 22 kv or 33 kv voltage level exists in the relevant distribution system. (b) If 22 kv or 33 kv voltage level does not exist in the relevant distribution system. (a) If 33 kv voltage level exists in the relevant distribution system. (b) If 33 kv voltage level does not exist in the relevant distribution system kv (a) If 66 kv voltage level exists in the relevant distribution system. (b) If 66 kv voltage level does not exist in the relevant distribution system kv (a) Through a common or dedicated or joint dedicated feeder (b) Through a dedicated or joint dedicated feeder Load Demand 5 MW 4 MVA 6 MW 5 MVA 6 MW 5 MVA 7 MW 5.5 MVA 15 MW 12 MVA 18 MW 14 MVA 18 MW 14 MVA 30 MW 24 MVA Provided that all such supplies, excepting the same at Sr. No.4(a), shall be given through dedicated or joint dedicated feeders only and that in case of Sr. No. 4(a) the supply shall be given through a common or dedicated or joint dedicated feeder: Provided further that in case of supply involving special category loads, the same shall be given at 11 kv or 22 kv subject to further conditions that the total connected load in respect of the special category loads does not exceed 1.5 MW within the total connected load upto 3 MW and contract demand upto 2.2 MVA and that the supply is to be given through a dedicated feeder or a joint dedicated feeder emanating from EHV sub-station: Provided further that if the conditions given in second proviso, in relation to the supplies involving special category loads, are not adhered to, the supply shall be given at 33 kv or at appropriate higher voltage depending on the total connected load and contract demand: Provided further that the provisions of this para, shall be further subject to the following condition:- (i). that the voltage regulation limits shall have to be adhered to while deciding the supply arrangements; (ii). that in case of special category loads and other such loads which can cause disturbances in the power distribution system, the consumer shall provide suitable protection equipments as per the Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations, 2010 and other prudent practices to adequately insulate the distribution system from the disturbance caused by such loads; (iii). that the consumer already getting supply at higher voltage as compared to the standard supply voltage or the limits given in this para, shall not be entitled to any higher voltage supply rebate; and Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 21

22 (iv). that in cases of joint dedicated feeder, the limits of maximum connected load and maximum contract demand as per this para shall be applicable for the summation of the connected loads and contract demands of both the consumers. Explanation.- For the purposes of this para,- (a) dedicated feeder means the electric supply line emanating from the substation of the licensee through which electricity is, or is intended to be, supplied to a single consumer; and (b) joint dedicated feeder means the electric supply line emanating from the substation of the licensee through which electricity is, or is intended to be, supplied to two consumers (i) Where the contract demand has not been applied for or sanctioned, the limit corresponding to 90% of the connected load (in kw) converted into kva by adopting power factor of 0.9 shall be deemed as the contract demand. (ii) The supply shall be made at the minimum voltage level at which all the relevant limits and conditions are adhered to. However, if the consumer opts for supply of power at a voltage higher than the standard supply voltage, the licensee shall allow the same excepting the cases in which there may be some constraint. (iii) Where the connected load or contract demand is to be enhanced, the standard supply voltage under para (5.10.1) and the supply voltage under para (5.10.2) shall be redetermined as per the provisions under the said paras based on enhanced connected load and enhanced contract demand. Explanation.- For the purposes of paras (5.10.1) and (5.10.2), special category loads means furnace loads and mass induction heating loads and shall also include any other load as the Commission may, after taking into consideration electrical characteristics and its impact on the distribution system, by order, declare it to be a special category load. Sanction of Load: INSTRUCTION No The consumer is required to apply for sanction of load on the A&A form with deposit of requisite charges as detailed above in Instruction No.1 to 5. The concerned Sub- Division shall process the case with detailed feasibility of feeding the load, voltage regulation calculations of the feeder from where the supply is to be released and sanction the load in case in the competency of Sub-Division and submit the case to the concerned Division. The concerned Division shall check the documents and verify the feasibility report. In case the feeding sub-station is under control of Electrical System Wing or the supply voltage of the proposed load is 66 kv or above, the feasibility report shall be forwarded to Electrical System Division for verification and recommendations. The feasibility report shall be submitted on FORMAT-B As in some of the cases the authorities competent to sanction the load and the estimate may be different, steps should, therefore, be taken to get the estimate sanctioned in advance specifically in case the service line is a dedicated feeder or the connection is to be released at 11 kv and above, after issuance of PAC to the consumers. The consumer shall apply for sanction of load after the installation of plant and machinery including the Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 22

23 electrical installation and wiring is almost complete and the details of load of plant and machinery can be verified at site. 6.2 The various officers are competent to accept the A&A form and sanction of loads at standard supply voltage for all categories of consumers whether permanent or temporary up to the following extent:-- Sr. Designation D.O.P. for sanction of load No. Connected Contract Demand 1. Engineer Incharge of Operation Sub- Division (AE, AEE, Ex.Engg.) 2. Sr. E.E./ Addl.S.E. Incharge of Operation Division 3. S.E./ Dy.C.E. Incharge of Operation Circle load <=50 kw (at LT Supply) >50 kw to <=500 kw ( up to 11 kv) >500 kw to <=2000 kw ( up to 11 kv) 4. Chief Engineer (Op.) >2000 kw to <=3 MW (Up to 11 kv) 5. Board Level Committee Managing Director, Director (Operation) and Director (Technical). <=50 kva >50 kva to <=500 kva >500 kva to <=2000 kva >2000 kva to <=2.2 MVA >3 MW >2.2 MVA All electric furnaces(s) load of 100 kw and above with contract demand of 100 kva and above. All loads containing steel rolling mills and rolling / re-rolling mills. All loads at 33 kv and above The formal sanction order shall be issued by the concerned Chief Engineer (Op.) after approval of Board Level Committee and completion of all the codal formalities. 6 Concerned CE (Op.) after completion of codal formalities Permanent reduction of connected load/contract demand in respect of the load at Sr. No. 5 Note: In cases of extension of load the above limits shall apply for total load i.e. sanctioned existing load and additional load. The competent authorities to sanction such load in such cases shall be the same as for the total connected load after inclusion of additional load as indicated above. 6.3 The indicative terms and conditions to be intimated to the domestic consumer at the time of sanction of load shall be as below:- The details of sanction of load such as Name of the Applicant, Location of the premises for which load is sanctioned, purpose for which load is sanctioned, the connected load (kw) sanctioned ( in case of additional connected load, the existing load(kw) and additional load(kw) may also be entered), supply voltage at load is sanctioned and the feeding sub-station from where power shall be made available shall be mentioned in the starting paragraph of the sanction of load. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 23

24 1) The consumer has to submit proof of ownership /occupancy of the premises for which electricity connection is being applied for 2) Authorization to sign on behalf of company (i.e. Resolution of Board of Directors of the company, duly attested, authorizing the person to sign the papers / agreements on behalf of company along with attested signatures of the authorized person) should also be obtained and verified. A copy of the same be kept in the consumer file. 3) In case of applications for electric connections falling under Planning areas, Municipal Corporations, Nagar Panchayats and other local bodies where TCP Act, 1977 is applicable, the NOC from the local bodies is mandatory at the time of release of connection. 4) The power will be made available on the basis of self- certified declaration/ undertaking given by the consumer at the time of sanction of load. In case of non-fulfillment of statutory provisions/ approvals/ clearances from Govt. (Central/ State) Departments and other statutory bodies, the connection shall be disconnected with intimation, as agreed in the declaration/ undertaking. 5) The consumer has deposited security amounting to Rs. [ Rs. in cash + BG amounting to Rs. ] as per HPERC (Security Deposit Regulations),2005 for the contract demand as per billing cycle with the concerned Sub Divisional Officer. The amount payable towards Security Deposit shall be in the form of Cash/ Demand Draft (D.D.) drawn in favour of the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer. 6) The consumer shall deposit cost towards Expenditure for Supply of Electricity as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 and amendments. The amount deposited must be entered in the A&A form in the space provided for the purpose. 7) The cost of service line and associated equipment at both ends, as the case may be, will have to be borne by the consumer as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 and amendments. 8) The metering of the consumer shall be done as per Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006 as amended from time to time. 9) During winter months i.e. from November to March, in case there is shortage of power, which otherwise is not a general phenomenon, the release of power will depend upon its availability and HPSEBL reserves the right to impose any restrictions. 10) The consumer shall abide by the provisions of Electricity Act,2003, all applicable laws, conditions of supply, General Conditions of Tariff and Schedule of Tariff, Supply Code, rules, regulations, orders, Directives, Notifications issued and enforced under applicable laws by HPERC/CEA/Govt. of India/Govt. of H.P. and any other instructions/circulars issued by HPSEB Ltd. from time to time, and as Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 24

25 amended from time to time, for equitable and efficient distribution of electric energy. 11) The HPSEBL reserves the right to impose any restrictions depending upon the loading conditions of the feeding substation and availability of power as may deem fit to regulate the supply in the most efficient manner. 12) HPSEBL will not be held responsible for any loss to the consumer as a result of any breakdown, shutdown (whether planned or emergency) or restriction power etc. 13) The consumer will have to abide by the CEA (Measures relating to safety and electric supply) regulation 2010 and its amendments. 6.4 The indicative terms and conditions to be intimated to the other than domestic consumers at the time of sanction of load shall be as below: A) Sanction of New /Addl Load /Contract Demand The details of sanction of load such as Name of the Applicant, Location of the premises for which load is sanctioned, purpose for which load is sanctioned, the connected load (kw) and Contract demand (kva) sanctioned ( in case of additional connected load and/or Contract demand, the existing load(kw) and additional load(kw) with existing Contract demand(kva) and additional Contract demand (kva) may also be entered), supply voltage at load is sanctioned and the feeding sub-station from where power shall be made available shall be mentioned in the starting paragraph of the sanction of load. The condition of construction of new sub-station or augmentation of existing sub-station for release of the load shall also be mentioned in case applicable. 1) In case of drawl of Contract demand in excess of the Contract demand sanctioned, the firm will be liable to pay penalty for over drawl as notified from time to time. 2) The supply during peak load hours (6:30 PM to 10 PM) shall be governed by the additional conditions as specified in the H.P. Electricity Supply Code & Schedule of Tariff and Schedule of General & Service Charges approved by HPERC. The prior intimation of 30 days of his intention of using the load during peak load hours has to be intimated to HPSEBL. 3) The consumer has to submit proof of ownership /occupancy of the premises for which electricity connection is being applied for. 4) Authorization to sign on behalf of company (i.e. Resolution of Board of Directors of the company, duly attested, authorizing the person to sign the papers / agreements on behalf of company along with attested signatures of the authorized person) should also be obtained and verified. A copy of the same be kept in the consumer file. 5) In case of applications for electric connections falling under Planning areas, Municipal Corporations, Nagar Panchayats and other local bodies where TCP Act, Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 25

26 1977 is applicable, the NOC from the local bodies is mandatory at the time of release of connection. 6) The power will be made available on the basis of self- certified declaration/ undertaking given by the consumer at the time of sanction of load. In case of non-fulfillment of statutory provisions/ approvals/ clearances from Govt. (Central/ State) Departments and other statutory bodies, the connection shall be disconnected with intimation, as agreed in the declaration/ undertaking. 7) The consumer has deposited security amounting to Rs. [ Rs. in cash + BG amounting to Rs. ] as per HPERC (Security Deposit Regulations),2005 for the contract demand as per billing cycle with the concerned Sub Divisional Officer. The amount payable towards Security Deposit shall be in the form of Cash/ Demand Draft (D.D.) drawn in favour of the concerned Sub-Divisional Officer. The firm may opt to furnish the security in the form of Bank Guarantee in place of cash deposit where the amount payable towards security deposit exceeds Rs lac and the same shall remain valid during the period the agreement for supply of energy remains in force. The validity of BG in no case should be less than 3 years. The entry of security deposited by the consumer may be made in the A&A form in the space provided for the purpose. 8) The consumer shall deposit cost towards Expenditure for Supply of Electricity as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 and amendments. The amount deposited must be entered in the A&A form in the space provided for the purpose. 9) The cost of kv dedicated feeder /joint dedicated feeder along with bay and associated equipment at both ends, as the case may be, will have to be borne by the consumer as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations, 2012 and amendments. The cost of all these components will be intimated to the consumer by the Chief Engineer (Op.), concerned / Chief Engineer (ES), HPSEBL, Hamirpur, as the case may be. The entry of amount deposited by the consumer on this account shall be made in the A&A form in the space provided. 10) The cost of the whole or part of the service line/equipment paid by the consumer and maintained by the HPSEBL/consumer as per HPERC Regulations, shall remain the property of HPSEBL and HPSEBL shall have the right to make use of the service line/equipment for extending power supply to other consumer(s) in the vicinity or for any other purpose. 11) The consumer will have to build up the load to the extent of load sanctioned /contract demand within a period of two months of readiness of HPSEBL failing which the demand charges will be levied as per provision of H.P. Electricity Supply Code (First Amendment) Regulations, Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 26

27 12) The metering of the consumer shall be done as per Central Electricity Authority (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations, 2006 as amended from time to time. 13) No new supply to LT installations with induction motor(s) of capacity above 3 HP and /or welding transformers above 2 kva shall be given unless shunt capacitors of appropriate ratings are installed to the entire satisfaction of the HPSEBL 14) The consumer shall comply with the harmonics standards as specified by the Authority and for voltage levels for which harmonics standards have not been specified by the Authority, the user shall comply with the standards specified in the relevant International Electrical and Electronic Engineers regulations. In case of failure to comply the specified standards, action shall be taken as per Clause No of H.P. Electricity Supply Code, ) The consumer shall abide by the provisions of Electricity Act,2003, all applicable laws, conditions of supply, General Conditions of Tariff and Schedule of Tariff, Supply Code, rules, regulations, orders, Directives, Notifications issued and enforced under applicable laws by HPERC/CEA/Govt. of India/Govt. of H.P. and any other instructions/circulars issued by HPSEB Ltd. from time to time, and as amended from time to time, for equitable and efficient distribution of electric energy. 16) The HPSEBL reserves the right to impose any restrictions depending upon the loading conditions of the feeding substation and availability of power as may deem fit to regulate the supply in the most efficient manner. 17) The supply of electricity shall not be commenced by HPSEBL for HT and EHT supply voltage unless the permission from Electrical Inspector is obtained by the consumer to commence or recommence the supply after an installation has been disconnected for six months. The consumer will have to abode by the CEA (Measures relating to safety and electric supply) regulation 2010 and its amendments. 18) It is mandatory for the consumer to use BEE star labeled (with minimum 4 star rating) Motor pump sets, and ISI/BIS marked power capacitors, foot/reflex valves etc. as per Govt. of H.P., MPP & Power Deptt. Order No. Vidyut-C(7)-1/2008 dated and its amendment dated Other specific conditions of line/sub-station to be commissioned, or any other case specific conditions shall also be included while issuing the load sanction order. B) Permanent reduction of contract demand The details of sanction of permanent reduction of contract demand such as Name of the Applicant, Location of the premises for which load is sanctioned, existing Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 27

28 contract demand before reduction and contract demand after reduction and supply voltage shall be mentioned. The effective date of permanent reduction of contract demand shall be the date on which the reduction of contract demand has been sanctioned or 30 days ( timeframe as per HPERC(Distribution Standards Performance) Regualtions,2010) from receipt of application in the sub-division with processing fee, whichever, is earlier. The details of processing fee deposited at the time of application on the changed quantum of contract demand as per Schedule of Tariff and Schedule of General and Service Charges shall be mentioned in the order. The enhancement of contract demand, if any, required in future shall be regulated as per Clause No. 3.2 of H.P. Electricity Supply Code (First Amendment) Regulations, 2014 and recovery of expenditure shall be made as per regulation 7(2) of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 and its amendments. The other terms and conditions of original load sanction shall remain unchanged. 6.5 Release of connection to from the Sub-Station of consumer. In case a HT consumer with one unit as a separate individual entity (either sister concern or another unit of a firm or company) requiring connection LT connection may request HPSEBL to avail the connection from the Sub-Station installed by the HT consumer with agreement for metering and billing. Similarly in case of EHT and HT consumer, the Sub-metering arrangement can be requested by the consumers. In such cases, both the units are either the separate units of a firm of Company with separate production line/business or sister concerns. HPSEBL may allow the same subject to following: The sub-metering arrangement may be allowed in case system is not available with HPSEBL (this shall not be limited to system constraints but only in case there is no system with HPSEBL at a particular voltage) and in case the system is available, other consumers may be asked to club the load, if it is feasible In case system at particular voltage is not available with HPSEBL, the submetering may be allowed but only for adjoining areas and not in the cases where the units are separated by road, forest land, plot, piece of land etc The metering and billing arrangement in the shape of agreement shall be approved by the concerned Chief Engineer(Op), of HPSEBL after the arrangement has been approved by the authority competent to sanction of load a per delegation of power. All other codal formalities may be completed before release of connection. One copy of the document may be sent to Chief Engineer (Commercial) for reference and record after sanction of load in respect of those load sanction cases which has been approved by Board Level Committee. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 28

29 Instruction No. 7 Intimation of Acceptance of Application, Issuing of Demand Notice & Execution of Agreement: 7.1 After the load applied for by the prospective consumer and the estimate for service line as per Regulation 4 of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regualtions,2012 and its amendments and as per Sub-Regulation 3 and 9 of Regulation 5 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations, 2012,wherever applicable have been got sanctioned from the competent authority, suitable entry should be made in the service register. The consumer shall be intimated about the acceptance of his application and demand notice shall be issued. The demand notice to the consumer should comprises of the following:- a) The initial security deposit for new/additional load/contract demand, as applicable, as per HPERC(Security Deposits) Regulations,2005 as amended from time to time. b) Normative Infrastructural Development Charges as per Regulation 5(2) of HPERC(Recovery of expenditure for supply of electricity) Regualtions,2012 as amended from time to time. c) The cost of service line estimate as per Regulation 4 of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations d) The entire cost of infrastructure to be created in case of builder/promoter as per Regulation (6) of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations 2012, as the case may be. e) The entire cost of works in the areas where no infrastructure is available or no growth is foreseen in immediate future including the sites where locations of the loads depend upon the geographic factors and availability of basic raw material such as cement factories and construction power for Hydel projects etc as per Regulation 5(3) of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity) Regulations 2012 and sub-regulation 9 of Regulation 5 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 for exclusive works, as the case may be. Note: In case of HT /EHT connection, or where the load is to be released on dedicated feeder, the estimate for HT/EHT line may either be prepared after issuance of PAC or after sanction of load as decided by the consumer and the field units of HPSEBL in order to execute the work simultaneously with installation of plant and machinery so as to release the connection in a time bound manner. 7.2 The demand notice (in duplicate) should immediately be issued within the time period specified under clause 3 of HPERC (Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on request) regulations 2004 against proper receipt or by registered/ speed post to the prospective consumer on form CS -5 (a) in case of LT Consumers and on form CS 5(b) in case of HT/EHT consumers for its compliance by the consumer. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 29

30 The demand notice should indicate the following :- i) All deficiencies to be made good and the codal formalities to be completed by the applicant and observations and conditions observed by the sanctioning authority. ii) iii) Necessity to furnish the test report from the approved wiring contractor in case not submitted at the time of application for connection. It some minor installation & testing by the electrical contractor at the premises of applicant is left, the consumer may be allowed to submit the Test Report after sanction of load by the competent field officers. However, the test report on parameters related to safety and protection of the installation should be submitted at the time of submission of initial test report along with A&A form only. The deposit of charges as per regulations notified by HPERC as indicated at Sl. No. 7.1 above. 7.3 Period for which the offer remains valid: In the demand notice the period for which the offer will remain valid is also required to be intimated to the applicant. The normal validity period to comply with the demand notice is 90 days which can further be extended at the request of the consumer on valid grounds up to a period limited to six months In case of non-compliance of the demand notice within the period mentioned in such notice or within such period as may be mutually agreed between the licensee(hpsebl) and the applicant which in not more than six months, the application, against which the demand notice had been issued, shall be treated as withdrawn and the matter shall be further dealt with in accordance with relevant governing Regulations and Codes of the Commission. 7.7 Delay to take supply or avail contract demand: After the load has been sanctioned, the HPSEB Ltd. shall carry out all the necessary codal formalities and execution of works for supply of power in line with the HPERC (Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity on Request) Regulations As soon as HPSEB Ltd. completes all works required for releasing the connection to the prospective/ existing consumer, concerned Sr. executive Engineer, Electrical Division shall intimate prospective/ existing consumer in writing the readiness of HPSEBL to release the load and shall request the prospective/ existing consumer to avail the load with in specified period of two months. The prospective/ existing consumer shall carry out all the inspection and testing work of his installation done within the period of two months In case the prospective/ existing consumer, either delays to receive supply of electricity or does not avail the full contract demand within two months, demand charges in respect of consumers to whom two part tariff is applicable, on the sanctioned contract demand shall be charged on the Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 30

31 sanctioned contract demand at the rates as per the relevant Schedule of Tariff subject to following limits in line with clause 3.9 of the Supply code: S.No. Description Minimum Limit i For initial six months from Maximum demand actually the expiry of notice period availed if any. or date of release of connection, whichever is earlier; ii For next six months; Maximum demand actually availed, if any, or 30% of the total sanctioned contract iii After expiry of the period provided in item (ii) above demand, whichever is higher Maximum demand actually availed, if any, or 50% of the total sanctioned contract demand, whichever is higher Provided that the minimum limits, as given, in (ii) and (iii) above, shall not be further decreased on the account of tariff provisions relating to charging of demand charges for lesser quantum of demand due to non utilization or temporary reduction of contract demand. INSTRUCTION No. 8 Disposal of Pending Applications: 8.1 At the close of each month an abstract in the Service Register should be prepared by SDO/J.E. in- charge of the Sub-Division/Sub Office. The abstract should show clearly the number of pending applications and applications received during the month. The pending applications (especially for tube well and industrial loads) should be further scrutinized by the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) personally and necessary action be taken to see that arrangements are made to make supply of power available to all genuine demands. 8.2 Where an application for supply of electricity pertains to a village, hamlet or area that has not been electrified, supply of electricity in such case(s) will be made only after electrification of that village, hamlet or area as per the investment plan of the licensee, as approved by the commission & application may be disposed off by writing the words pending for want of electrification of the area in the Service Register in the column concerned (in red ink). The reason for non-acceptance should also be written (in red ink) in continuation of the words pending for want of electrification across the ensuing column. The probable/ tentative date by which the power can be made available be also intimated to the consumer on the basis of investment plan. Separate seniority list of such type of pending applications is to be maintained meticulously and the same should be followed while releasing the connection. Such applications should be properly acknowledged and the applicant informed accordingly. INSTRUCTION No. 9 Receipt of duly complied demand notice, Agreement Form, Test Report & other relevant documents: Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 31

32 As soon as the consumer complies with the Demand Notice the following procedure may be adopted: It should be ensured that all the documents required to be furnished by the consumer duly filled and signed have been received in the Sub-Division. It will be the specific duty of the receiving HPSEBL official to check the details. 9.2 The wiring contractor s test report Form CS-10 as was received along with A& A form should be verified in respect of various categories of consumers. In case, if a minor installation & testing by the electrical contractor at the premises of applicant is left, the consumer may be allowed to submit the Test Report after sanction of load by the competent field officers. However, the test report on parameters related to safety and protection of the installation should be submitted at the time of submission of initial test report along with A&A form only. The following officers are authorized to verify and accept test reports in case of the categories of consumers within the time limits indicated against each:-- S. Officer/ official Consumer No. designated Category Junior Engineer/ Domestic, NDNCS & AAE. Commercial consumers SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) Agricultural, Small/ Medium/ Large Industrial, IDWPS and Bulk Supply consumers, SL and TMS (to get supply at L.T.) Sr. Executive Small//Medium/Large Engineer Industrial, IDWPS and Bulk Supply consumers, TMS, Railway Traction ( to get supply at H.T./EHT) Time Limit Within 10 days after sanction of load Within 10 days after sanction of load Within 10 days after sanction of load. It may, however, be pointed out here that the period specified above is the maximum and that normally it should be possible to verify the test reports in much shorter period. Note: - (i) In case the electrical installation of the consumer does not conform the relevant provisions of the CEA (Measures relating to Safety & Electric Supply)Regulations,2010 and its amendments or is likely to constitute danger, the consumer should be informed in writing of the shortcomings and to deposit the requisite re-inspection fee as per the relevant provision of the applicable Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges.As soon as the consumer intimates the Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 32

33 removal of defects and deposits the re-inspection fee the installation should be retested and the procedure repeated until the defects are removed fully. (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) No connection should be given on false test reports or where the installation has not been carried out. Any official/officer responsible for this breach of Instructions would be liable for disciplinary action. To avoid unauthorized extensions of load by Agricultural, Industrial and Bulk Supply consumers, the accepting authority as indicated above must ensure that the connected load in respect of the consumers falling under their power as stated above is checked at least once a year. HP Govt. Vide notification No. MPP-F(5)-22/2013-I dated has introduced self-certification provision and third party verification for installation of up to 440 V supply voltage. In case self-certified/third party verified installations, the same may be accepted. No new connection or reconnection after disconnection of more than six months in respect of installation of supply voltage above 440 V be made by the HPSEB Ltd. on the request of the consumer without the inspection of installation by Electrical Inspector. The connected load (kw) calculated by converting the ratings on the machine from kva or HP(in case of motors) as per procedure specified in Instruction No. 4 above shall be rounded to three decimal places( watt being the basic unit of power). 9.3 If any applicant or a consumer is dissatisfied with the rejection of the test report, he has the right to appeal to the Chief Electrical Inspector to test the installation under Regulation 38 of CEA ( Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply)Regualtions,2010 and the decision of the said Inspector will be binding on the consumer as well as HPSEBL. While intimating the defects to the consumer under relevant rules he should also be informed of his right to appeal so that, if he so desires, he may do so. The charges incidental to such testing will be borne by the consumer himself. If the grievances of prospective consumer is held valid by the Electrical Inspector then the connection/ reconnection shall be made by the HPSEBL within 24 hours from the receipt of such intimation from the Electrical Inspector 9.4 It should, however, be ensured that no Test Report is rejected on flimsy grounds. Whenever a test report is rejected by the J.E, intimation should be given by him to SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) immediately, giving detailed reasons for the rejection. In exceptional cases if SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) is satisfied that the Test Report has been rejected without valid reasons, he may order that the connection to the applicant should be given before any other connection is taken up. The giving of the next connection should not, however, normally be stopped. Where J.E. points out defects even in the Second Test report, the SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) should personally verify the fact to ensure that the test report is not being repeatedly rejected merely to harass the applicant. 9.5 It should also be seen that no undated test reports are accepted. It is very essential to fill in the entries regarding the date on which the actual test is carried out so that periodical testing of consumer s installation as enjoined under Regulation 46 of CEA (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply)Regualtions,2010 could be conducted after requisite intervals. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 33

34 9.6 The prospective consumer should deposit balance security, if any, after verification of connected load of consumer installation in respect of the connection where single part tariff is applicable, with the cashier of the HPSEBL as may be indicated in the Demand Notice Form CS-5. The cashier on receipt of the charges as per demand notice should issue to the applicant a receipt in Form HB (CAO-37) (under signatures of the official authorized by HPSEBL) in token of having received the amount and append a note on it to the effect that the charges as per details below has been received by him vide Receipt No dated There should be no undue delay in returning the verified Test Report. On the receipt of the same in the Sub-Division Office and receipt of additional security,if any, as per para 9.6 and also if all the other conditions/requirements have been met, the SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) will issue a service connection order (Form No. CS-12); reference to the service connection order (No. and date) being entered on the bottom of the HPSEBL s installation Test Order. 9.8 It should be ensured that only one Service Connection Order Book is used at a time for all categories of connections at One Local Distribution Centre. 9.9 The quantum of load filled by the applicant in the A&A form and Test Report may be verified by the concerned field units as per Instruction No. 4 and in case correction is required to be made based on actual verification of load, the same may be done by the authority verifying the test report in the test report. The connected load (kw) shall accordingly be amended in the A&A form after verification of test report and before the Service Connection Order (SCO) or Sundry Job Order(SJO) as the case may be. INSTRUCTION No. 10 Release of connection vis-à-vis Shortage of Materials: 10.1 All concerned officers up to the level of Chief Engineer should ensure that adequate, materials and all other facilities generally required for grant of connections are provided to all the Sub-Divisions/Divisions under their control well in time so that the work of grant of connections goes on unhampered The Sr. Executives/ Superintending Engineers should keep in touch with the field units under their control so that release of connections is not stopped merely because of local shortage of materials etc. Generally, there should not be any shortage of material; However, in case of such eventualities, which should only be as exceptional cases, the consumer shall have the option to provide the requisite material as per relevant standards & specifications. For such material/ equipment, Executive Engineer concerned shall be associated for quality assurance. Wherever the consumer provides the material, the amount of the service estimate shall be adjusted accordingly and he shall not be charged in the service estimate for the material supplied by him. No material should, however, be accepted from the consumer by any of the officials without the written approval of the S.D.O In charge in respect of LT connections of domestic & commercial category of consumers, who should also invariably keep a copy of such approval with him, so that at the time of taking the measurement of the works connected with the grant Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 34

35 of connection or while adjusting the accounts thereof, it should be ensured that the material has been actually utilized and properly accounted for. In respect of other category, in case of any extreme eventually, the concerned Chief Engineer(Operation) shall decide to accept the material in consultation with Chief Engineer(MM) The Sr. Executive Engineers shall submit the quarterly return on such shortages to the higher authorities for their appraisal. INSTRUCTION No. 11 Supply of Power to Local Bodies for Public Lighting: 11.1 Receipt and Disposal of Requisition A requisition for supply of power from a Local Body e.g. Municipal Corporation/ Committee or NAC or Village Panchayat or cantonment area, for public lighting needs to be accompanied with an attested copy of Resolution passed by the elected representatives sanctioning the installation of street light points; however, in the absence of any elected body, the Administrator should sign the requisition. In addition, the Local Body should also forward an attested copy of the resolution authorizing its representatives (by name) to sign the agreement on its behalf along with their specimen signatures duly attested For village Panchayats, in order to avoid financial complications a certificate from the District Panchayat Officer to the effect that the draft agreement has been approved by him, should also accompany the resolution and the requisition. The agreement for Public Lighting will, in this case, be signed by the Pradhan and Up- Pradhan or a Ward Member or Panchayat Secretary after they have been authorized for the purpose by the village Panchayat through a resolution. An attested copy of the resolution should also accompany this requisition As soon as a requisition together with an attested copy of the resolution passed by the local body is received in the Local Office of HPSEBL, the necessary estimate and other necessary documents should be prepared at once. The local body should be informed within 10 days from the receipt of the requisition, the estimated cost worked out in accordance with the provisions of HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) regulations 2012 and its amendments from time to time and the Cost Data for the relevant year, approved by the Commission, and the local body should be asked whether it is prepared to pay the said amount. The Local Body should be clearly informed that the estimated cost is tentative and subject to the final approval/sanction of estimate by the competent authority On Local Body agreeing to depositing the estimated cost, the street lighting agreement should be got signed from the authorized representative of the local body in quadruplicate and simultaneously the estimated got sanctioned from the competent authority The signed agreement in quadruplicate together with other documents should then be forwarded to Superintending Engineer concerned, through the Sr. Executive Engineer concerned for acceptance by him on behalf of the HPSEB Ltd. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 35

36 The estimate/ Agreement will be dealt with by the authorities concerned returned to the Local Office duly sanctioned/accepted in due course, and demand notice issued to the Local Body for depositing the estimated cost, security deposit and completion of any other formalities required, but the work of providing street light points should not be delayed for want of execution of Agreement on the part of the Superintending Engineer which may take some time On compliance of the demand notice by the Local Body, action to release the power supply for street lighting shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of relevant regulations Execution of Principal & Supplementary Street Lighting Agreement: The Agreement for street lighting by the Local Body is to be executed on the model form for Public Lighting Agreement, as approved by the HPSEB Ltd. In this connection, following points need special attention: There should be no over-writing in the Agreement Corrections and interpolations, if any, should be initialed by all the executants of the Agreement i.e. by the President and the Secretary or by the Executive Officer (as the case may be) in the case of Municipal Committees; and Pradhan and Up-Pradhan or a Ward member in case of Village Panchayats and by Superintending Engineers on behalf of the HPSEB Ltd Mere manuscript filling in the blanks in the Agreement Forms need not be attested by the executants The date of execution of an agreement (i.e. the date to be filled in the first line of the agreement), should always be written in words such as Forth day of April, Two Thousand and Twelve The number of lamps, their wattages, length of lines in kilometers etc. should also be written both in figures and words in the agreement e.g. 20 (twenty) Lamps, 40 (forty watts) and (four decimal one three six) KM Each page of the agreement should be initialed and the four copies of schedule - I signed in full by the representative of the Local Body. Note 1 Note 2 The space meant for filling the date of execution of an agreement is not to be filled in by the Divisional or Sub Divisional Officers. The date of execution of an agreement should be the date on which the agreement is last signed by any party thereto. While filling Schedule I of the Street Light Agreement, it should be kept in view that at least the requirements of the next five years are taken into consideration so that the necessity of entering into supplementary agreement every now and then is obviated. In the column meant for minimum Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 36

37 No. of lamps, the immediate requirements should be entered, whereas in the column meant for Maximum No. of Lamps the probable No. of Lamps, which would be required by the end of 5 years, should be mentioned As the public lighting Agreement is an important document just as a contract Agreement, the codal rules/instructions on the subject should be followed in preparing the same, whenever applicable The agreement thus completed in quadruplicate along with the various schedules should then be forwarded to Superintending Engineer concerned through Executive Engineer for acceptance on behalf of HPSEBL. Original copy of the Agreement should be retained in S.E. s Office and the Duplicate one forwarded to the S.D.O. (A.E./A.E.E.) for onward transmission to the Local Body. The 3 rd and the fourth copy of the agreement should be made available to the Sr. Executive Engineer and the S.D.O. (A.E/A.E.E.) for reference and record Disposal of an application For Extension in Street Light Points: As soon as a requisition together with a Resolution of the Local Body for extension in Street Light Points is received and if the extension in Public Lighting points is within the Maximum No. of lamps in Schedule I of the Principal Agreement, Junior Engineer should be asked to frame the estimate and prepare four copies of the estimate, which should be got signed from the authorized representatives of the Local Body and estimate sent to competent Authority for sanction whereas Schedule I in quadruplicate should be sent to the Superintending Engineer through the Sr. Executive Engineer. The work should, of course, be taken in hand after the cost has been recovered. The original copy of Schedule I should be kept in record by Superintending Engineer, while the duplicate should be returned to the Local Body. The 3 rd and 4 th copy of the Schedule I should be supplied to the S.D.O. (A.E/A.E.E.) and Sr. Executive Engineer of Electrical Division by the S.E. s Office for record and reference In such cases where the extension in Public Lighting points is not covered by the Maximum No. of bulbs set forth in Schedule I of the Principal Agreement or wherever some change of wattages of bulbs which is not covered by the Principal Agreement, is required, a supplementary agreement in quadruplicate should be got signed from the authorized representatives of the Local Body. The procedure with regard to the execution of the supplementary agreement would be the same as for the principal agreement already described. A regular estimate should be framed to cover the expenditure involved and work should be taken in hand in accordance with the process mentioned above. It should, however, be borne in mind that if the necessity of executing a Supplementary Public Lighting Agreement arises on account of the change in the wattages of lamps or type of fitting, then relevant clause of the principal agreement should be scored out under the initials of the parties of the agreement. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 37

38 11.4 Whenever application is received in an office other than the one to which it relates, it should be forwarded to the concerned office under intimation to the consumer so that he may know where his application is being dealt with. Allotting Account Number: INSTRUCTION No As soon as a service connection order has been made out and authorized but before it is actually issued, the consumer s name should be entered in the Consumer s Ledger and Account No. and K.No./Consumer No. should be allotted to it. The new account number and K.No./Consumer No. besides being entered in the Service Register should also be mentioned in the Service Connection Order The account number & K Number/Consumer No. may be issued after following the indexing scheme to identify the consumer based on the K Number/Consumer No. While issuing the SCO, the phase i.e. R /Y/B be mentioned in case of single phase connection so as to balance the load on transformer To avoid any omission, it will be the personal responsibility of Senior Assistant or other official in-charge of the maintenance of Service Register to see and verify that the formalities of the S.C.Os are properly completed. They should sign the SCOs in token of having checked the same and also write the words A/C No entered in ledger on the top of the S.C.O. The SDO (A.E./A.E.E.)/J.E. in charge of subdivision/sub-office should also see that procedure as laid down above is followed rigidly. The S.C.O. must not be signed unless the above entries are made by the Sr. Assistant/Ledger Clerk on it. They should also, off and on, make a check of a few entries to see that the Account Nos. are actually opened in the ledgers by the Ledger Clerk/Sr. Assistant. Similar procedure may be followed irrespective of whether the record is maintained manually or entry is made through Computerized billing software. Recording of Consumer Cases: INSTRUCTION NO A personal file will be maintained for each applicant/consumer and all documents relating to release of connection to him, mentioned below be recorded therein Application & Agreement form together with the stamp paper duly accepted by the competent authority (Form CS-1 (a) or CS-1(b) as the case may be Service estimate (Form CS-7) Intimation of acceptance of application and Demand notice (Form CS-5a or 5b as the case may be) Receipts of charges deposited by the consumer Wiring contractor test report and HPSEBL s installation test order (Form CS 10.) Service connection order (Form CS-12) Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 38

39 13.1.7Any correspondence between the consumer and SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) and between the SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) and the higher offices in respect of that connection Any other connected paper The file should be headed as follows: 1. Name of the consumer. 2. Application No. 3. Account No./K.No. 4. Category of consumer as per Schedule of Tariff. Custody of Consumer Cases: INSTRUCTION No. 14 The original copy of the A&A form and other documents should be retained with the respective Sub-Division irrespective of sanctioning authority. The documents shall be kept in the Sub-divisional office concerned in the safe custody by various officials as follows : All consumer cases should be kept by the Senior Assistant/ M.L.C. in his/her personal custody All the consumer cases be serially numbered category wise and entered in a register (as per Form CS-2) giving full particulars of the documents relating to the consumer s case At every change of charge, a clear certificate of handing and taking over charge of these documents should be prepared and kept in the Sub Divisional Office for record. Simultaneously entries should be made in the register referred under Instruction No above. A copy of the certificate of transfer of charge be also submitted to the Divisional Office to facilitate fixing of responsibility in case of any missing documents In case of load sanction by the AE/AEE in charge of the Sub- Division, single copy of the A&A form along with other documents shall be obtained and recorded in the sub-divisional office, whereas in case of load sanction by the Sr. Executive Engineer/ Superintending Engineer (Op.)/Chief Engineer (Op.), the A&A form shall be obtained from the prospective consumer in duplicate/ triplicate/ quadruplicate respectively. The original copy of the accepted A & A form and other connected documents should be retained and properly recorded in the sub-divisional office and the remaining copies sent to other offices for record In order to check and enforce this provision, the Sr. Executive Engineers should particularly see during their routine tours and also during annual Inspections that these Instructions are meticulously followed. Any breach in the observance of these Instructions should be viewed very seriously and suitable steps be taken to avoid its recurrence. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 39

40 INSTRUCTION No. 15 Supply of Electricity to residential colonies either developed by HIMUDA or Pvt. Developers/Promoters/Builders with registration and licence from Competent Authority i.e. Director Town & Country Planning, HP: 15.1 Most of the residential complexes /colonies are covered under domestic tariff for which single part tariff is applicable. The Power Availability Certificate shall be issued based on connected load in kw and not as per contract demand as demand in this case is same as connected load The builder/developer/promoter of residential complexes should have valid registration certificate issued in their favor by the competent authority i.e. Director, TCP, HP. The builder/developer/promoter of residential complexes should have valid licence issued by Director, TCP for the specific location or completion /part completion certificate issued by Director, TCP in case the project is partially completed. The criteria for obtaining licence for construction of apartments and buildings and hence issuance of PAC is as per HP TCP Act,1977 ( Ref. Section 2(c), 2(z) and section 78 of TCP Act) The load shall be verified/assessed (as the case may be) by the concerned Sr.E.E., Electrical Division of HPSEBL and accordingly feasibility of feeding the load including voltage regulations shall be examined by the concerned field units No connection shall be released to the apartments/colonies without necessary NOC by Director TCP, HP The builder shall bear the entire charges and/or costs for the infrastructure development under Sub-regulation (2) to (9) or sub-regulation (3) and (9), of regulations 5 of HPERC(Recovery of expenditure for supply of Electricity)Regualtions,2012. The concerned field units shall take up the execution of such works only after receiving the entire amounts, excepting those for the adjustments for the difference between estimated costs and actual costs under regulation 5(9) of HPERC (Recovery of expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regualtions,2012. The builder will have to bear the entire cost of required infrastructure which may include construction of new substation, augmentation of existing substation, erection/ augmentation of HT line, erection of LT line with distribution main. The individual allotees shall pay the cost of service lines and other works as per regulation 4 and /or regulation 17 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 as amended from time to time. The Normative IDC will not be recovered for individual connections who have been allotted the residential flats/house etc. by the builder/developers who have already deposited the entire cost of infrastructure covered under Regulation 5 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations,2012 and its amendments. Measurement of Service lines: INSTRUCTION No Service Line shall have the same meaning as defined in the Electricity Act, 2003 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 40

41 16.2 HPSEBL s Distribution Main shall have the same meaning as defined in the Electricity Act, On receipt of the J.E. s report that the connection has been installed, the SDO (Assistant Engineer/Assistant Executive Engineer) should personally examine and take measurements of the service line installed and record a certificate to that effect on the reverse of the Service Connection Order The measurement of the service lines should be taken in accordance with the following rules: Sub Divisions up to 6000 connections (including connections in Sub offices). The SDO (A.E./A.E.E) should check all entries relating to industrial connections and also where mains and sub mains have been laid. In respect of domestic/ndnc/ Commercial connections, he should check 10% of service lines Sub Division having more than 6000 connections and where Junior Engineer is attached Jr. Engineer will perform the percentage check as under item (i) above. The (A.E./A.E.E) will however, still check 100% of the entries relating to industrial connections and main/sub mains. The check would also include the connections in sub-offices under the charge of J.E Sub Office under the Charge of Jr. Engineer. The J.E. will perform 100% check of all the service connections. Peak load hours Supply: INSTRUCTION No The following additional conditions shall be applicable for use of power during peak load hours(6:30 PM to 10 PM) in case of the consumers covered under small industrial power supply, medium Industrial power supply, large industrial power supply and irrigation and drinking water pumping supply: Such consumption shall be recorded separately for different time slots during normal hours, peak hours and during night time through suitable meters which are capable of recording the energy (kvah/kwh) during the peak load hours. In cases where such meters do not already exist, the consumer intending to use power during peak load hours shall give a notice of 3 months to HPSEBL and may start using power during peak load hours after such meter has been installed The consumers who have already obtained sanction from HPSEBL for using electricity during peak load hours may continue doing so to the extent of permission granted to them without any additional notice Where the meters as per clause already exist but the consumers have not already obtained exemption to run their plant during peak load hours or want to use higher load than what was permitted during peak load hours, they shall give a prior intimation of 30 days to HPSEBL where after they may start using power or additional power during peak Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 41

42 load hours as per their requirement within their sanctioned contract demand unless HPSEBL issues any instructions to the contrary through a general or specific order. In the meanwhile, consumers may continue using power to the extent of bonafide factory lighting and colony supply forming part of sanctioned connected load or to the extent of permission obtained. The consumption shall however be charged at the rates applicable for respective periods (normal, peak and night) as a part of the total consumption during such respective periods HPSEBL shall, in case of any constraint, always be entitled to impose any restrictions on usage of power during peak load hours in all cases through general or specific order; In cases where HPSEBL imposes any restrictions through general or specific orders the consumer shall abide by such restrictions failing which the HPSEBL shall be entitled to disconnect the supply to such consumers after giving a notice The sanctioned contract demand shall not be violated; Payment of peak load charges (demand and energy) shall be payable by the consumer at the rates as per the respective schedules of tariff; INSTRUCTION No. 18 Reduction/ Enhancement of Connected Load or Contract Demand on Permanent basis: 18.1 Permanent Reduction of connected load/ contract demand: In some cases the consumers may apply for permanent reduction of connected load/permanent reduction of contract demand due to one reason or other and they may also request for refund of Security. Following guidelines are issued to deal with such cases: Consumers who apply for permanent reduction of connected load/permanent reduction of contract demand may be permitted to do so, on production of revised A&A form and test report. However, in case there is change in contract demand without change in connected load only revised A&A form is to be obtained from the consumer. The processing fee, if applicable as per the relevant Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges shall be payable The authority competent to sanction the load before reduction in the load /contract demand shall also be competent to sanction reduction of contract demand/connected load except in case of Board Level Committee where concerned Chief Engineer(Op) has been delegated to sanction the reduction of connected load/permanent reduction of contract demand as mentioned in instruction No. 6.2 of the Sales Manual Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 42

43 To verified immediately in order to check the revised load and to avoid any dispute about the date of change of connected load The sanction of load whether it is reduction of connected load or sanction of reduction of contract demand, it should be dealt within 30 days. The time lines for reduction in contract demand as per HPERC(Distribution Performance Standards) Regulation, 2010 is 30 days even if it is sanctioned after that period Refund of security deposit, if any, on account of reduction of load/contract demand, shall be regulated as per HPERC (Security Deposit) Regulations, Any delay in refund of excess security, if any, also involves payment of interest and as such the field units must adhere to the time lines In compliance of the HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations 2010, maximum time limit for reduction of contract demand is fixed as under: Sr. No. Description Time frame Date from which demand charges leviable on reduced contract demand Remarks 1 Permanent Reduction contract demand of 30 days after receipt of application in line with HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations 2010 Date of sanction of reduced Contract demand by the competent authority or expiry of time limit (30days) from the receipt of A&A form in the sub-division with processing fee whichever is earlier. If not sanctioned within 30 days due to some procedural/ administrative delays, such sanction shall be deemed to have been accorded on the due date of 30days after the receipt of application and deposit of processing fee In order to adhere to the time frame, it may be ensured by the AE/AEE concerned that the complete case is received in the Sub- Division with the requisite processing fee. Note:- i) The concerned AE/AEE of ESD shall intimate the concerned sanctioning authority with a copy to other higher officers, if any, that the case for permanent reduction of contract demand has been received in the sub-division and complete case with requisite documents are being forwarded through proper channel to his office for sanction. In case the sanction of permanent reduction of contract demand is not received within specified time frame of 30 days, the Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 43

44 reduction of contract demand will be made effective after expiry of 30 days. ii) The case for sanction of revision of contract demand may be simultaneously be submitted to the competent authority through proper channel Efforts should be made such that the case does not remain pending in each office for more than three days. Dated initials to be recorded on A&A form while processing/ forwarding the case file In case the sanction of reduction of contract demand as per is not received in the concerned sub-division within the time period of 30 days, AE/AEE of concerned electrical sub-division should allow change of contract demand at his end without waiting for the approval/ sanction of competent authority In case of reduction of connected load with or without reduction of contract demand, the consumer has to apply on A&A form alongwith revised Test Report with actual connected load so reduced The test reports on reduction of connected shall be verified by the concerned officer as per Instruction No. 9.3 of Sales Manual Enhancement in contract demand/connected load: Consumers who apply for enhancement of connected load/ contract demand may be permitted to do so, on production of revised A&A form and test report. However, in case there is increase in contract demand without change in connected load only revised A&A form is to be obtained from the consumer The consumer shall be required to deposit, at the time of submitting his application for such enhancement/additional load, the amount towards security for additional connected load or contract demand, as the case may be, as per HPERC (Security Deposit), Regulations2005 and its amendments and charges as per recovery of expenditure for supply as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of electricity) Regulations,2012 and its amendments) If the additional contract demand for enhancement of contract demand or additional load requisitioned by the consumer is more than 100 kva, then prior to the application on A&A form as given in above, the consumer shall have to apply for the PAC as per instruction No. 5 of this manual The authority empowered to sanction the total contract demand/connected load shall be competent to sanction the enhancement of connected load/contract demand as per instruction No. 6.2 of the Sales Manual The time frame for release of enhancement of contract demand shall as per HPERC(Licensee s Duty for Supply of Electricity) Regulation,2004. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 44

45 INSTRUCTION No. 19 Temporary Revision in Contract Demand: The consumers to whom two part tariff is applicable shall be entitled to revise their contract demand within the total sanctioned contract demand without surrendering their lien of the total sanctioned contract demand, subject to the following conditions The consumer shall not reduce the contract demand to lesser than 50% of the total sanctioned contract demand subject to a further condition that the contract demand shall not be reduced below the lowest limit of contract demand as per the tariff category (or any sub-category thereof) applicable to him; Illustration.- A HT-2 single supply consumer having sanctioned contract demand of 1.8 MVA shall not be entitled to reduce the contract demand to 1000 kva or any value lesser than 1000 kva; The consumer shall not be entitled to revise the contract demand more than twice a year subject to the condition that the time gap between two successive revisions shall not be less than 3 months; 19.3 The consumer shall give a notice of at least one month to the HPSEBL before revising the contract demand under this mechanism. Even though the consumer shall not be required to obtain any sanction from the HPSEBL for change in contract demand under this mechanism, he, so as to avoid the disputes, shall ensure that the notice(s) for such revision are duly served by him upon the licensee through registered post or through courier service or is delivered by hand against signed receipt therefor; 19.4 In cases where the contract demand is reduced under this mechanism, such reduced contract demand shall be applicable for billing purposes; and 19.5 In cases where the consumer gets his contract demand reduced permanently, the limit of 50% under clause 19.1) above shall be considered with respect to such reduced contract demand, but such reduction shall not be considered to have been made under this mechanism and the time gap of 3 months as per clause 19.2 shall be reckoned from the date from which the demand was last revised under this mechanism. Illustration.- If a consumer who is having sanctioned contract demand of 10 MVA temporarily revises the contract demand to 6 MVA w.e.f under this mechanism but gets his sanctioned contract demand permanently reduced to 8 MVA w.e.f , he shall have to pay charges based on 6 MVA contract demand till (i.e. till the expiry of 3 months period from the date at which the contract demand was last revised i.e. from ). However, if the contract demand is to be reduced permanently to lesser than 6 MVA (say 4 MVA as on ), the demand charges would have been based on a contract demand of 4 MVA during the period upto The processing fee as per relevant Schedule of Tariff and General and Service Charges shall be payable by the consumer in case of temporary Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 45

46 revision of contract. The temporary reduction of contract demand may be entertained on simple application on plain paper or company letter head. Such request should be made by the consumer atleast one month prior to the date from which the consumer intends to avail the temporary revision of contract demand. The request of the consumer be acknowledged in the Sub- Divisions and the date of receipt of request of revision of contract demand in the Sub-Division should be considered for billing i.e. the revision of CD will be made effective after one month from the date of receipt of request of the consumer as per the amended provisions. The concerned AE/AEE of ESD shall then accept the request under intimation to the competent authority to sanction the full existing load for perusal/record and should also indicate the date on which temporary revision shall be effective. Change of Name/Title: INSTRUCTION No In case a consumer wants to transfer his connection in the name of other person, a request on HPSEBL s standard application & Agreement form [CS-1(a) or CS-1(b) as the case may be] by the person in whose name the connection is sought to be transferred, should be made to the local office of the HPSEBL accompanied by the consent of the existing consumer for change of name in accordance with clause of the Supply Code. The test report shall be furnished along with A&A form in case the connected load is in excess of the sanctioned connected load As soon as, such a requisition on A&A form [CS-1(a) or CS-1(b)] is received, the Jr. Engineer should be directed to visit the premises of the consumer for re-rating the installation, so that the new consumer is not held responsible for any alteration in the connected load which may have been effected by existing consumer without the authority of HPSEBL. In addition to this the J.E. should check up that all the material of the HPSEBL installed at the premises of the consumer is intact and has not been tampered with. He should also find out whether the change in name is motivated by genuine requirements and not for evading payment of any dues. He may also record the probable period since when the new applicant has been in occupation of the premises In case the J.E. s report is satisfactory and there is no change in connected load (or where there is a slight change but the existing service line can take up the load) the new consumer should be served with demand notice. It should, however, be kept in view that the issuance of the demand notice should not be delayed for more than 7 days of the receipt of the application on A&A form CS-1(a) or CS-1(b). The consumer should serve at least minimum 15 days notice of his intension to do so, so that all the formalities in respect of change of name are observed within 15 days of disconnection or change in name After the new consumer complies with the Demand Notice, immediate action should be taken to take the meter reading and preparation of final bill so that final bill for the old consumer could be made out with in 5 days and a new Account No. for a new consumer allotted and his account opened in the ledger for issuing him monthly/bimonthly bills. So far as the old consumer is concerned, the amount of the final bill or any other charges due from him should be immediately recovered. Also, it is to be noted that the final bill in respect of old consumer will also include Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 46

47 payment for the period between the date of special/ final reading and his proposed vacation of the premises on pro-rata basis on consumption pattern of the current billing cycle Although no physical disconnection or reconnection may be involved in the process of change of name yet a disconnection order in form CS-14 in respect of old consumer and a service connection order in form CS-12 in the name of the new consumer should be made in the account books. Steps should simultaneously be taken to forward the agreement to the competent authority for acceptance In such cases where the new applicant is found to be sharing the electric connection with the old consumer or alternatively the old consumer is related to him or would continue to benefit from the supply of energy, an undertaking from the new consumer should be obtained as an additional safeguard. If the application for the change of name is received from such a person who after taking possession of the premises has been utilizing the electric connection held in the name of the old occupant, the change of name should only be affected after he pays the old outstanding dues or at least a reasonable part thereof in proportion to the period he has been occupying the premises In order to complete the whole process, the consumer should wherever it is not possible to affect the change of name with in stipulated period of 15 days and the old consumer has already served the HPSEBL a notice of 15 days, the connection should be disconnected with due notice to the outgoing consumer unless he applies in writing to the S.D.O. (A.E/A.E.E.) to continue supply till the new consumer completes all the formalities The procedure for change of name in different situations is summarized below: 1. Procedure for Change of name in case of a builder of flat scheme takes connection in his name and it is subsequently transferred in the name of purchaser Documents required to be submitted ( by the consumer in whose name the name is required to be changed) Charges to be deposited Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure 1) Certified copy of registered Sale Deed /conveyance deed OR Society s Share Certificate in case of Registered Housing Society. 2) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 3) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/-. 4) Identity proof of new applicant. 5) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper for 1) Security for the existing load shall be transferred in the name of new consumer on giving undertaking as per Annexure-A. 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer, along with test report from Licensed 1) Nil ; in case the existing load as per test report is same as sanctioned load. 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 47

48 change of name Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned HPSEBL official(s). 2. Procedure for Change in case of Premises is owned by way of Revenue Partition Documents required to be submitted (by the consumer in whose name the name is required to be changed) 1) Documents confirming that the meter is located in his share of property i.e. land/ building (Tatima & Jamabandi). 2) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 3) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/- 4) Identity proof of new applicant. 5) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper for change of name Charges to be deposited Security Deposit 1) Security for the existing load shall be transferred in the name of new consumer on giving undertaking as per Annexure-A. 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer, along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned HPSEBL official(s). Recovery of Expenditure 1) Nil ; in case the existing load/cd as per test report is same as sanctioned load. 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load/cd in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. 3. Procedure for the change of name is required because of amalgamation /merger as per the provisions of Companies Act,2013 Documents required to be submitted ( by the consumer in whose name the name is required to be changed) Charges to be deposited Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure 1) Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Registrar or copy of High Court Order. 2) Article of Association. 3) Approval of change of Name by the Industries Deptt. of HP. 1) Security Deposit in Cash shall be transferred automatically. The Security Deposit in the shape of BG shall be required to be changed for new name of the consumer. 1) Nil ; in case the existing load/cd as per test report is same as sanctioned load. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 48

49 4) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 5) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/-. 6) Test Report from Licensed Electrical Contractor. 7) Board resolution for authorised signatory. 8) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper to pay any outstanding liability if any become due by old consumer. 9) Identity proof of new applicant 10) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper for change of name 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer, along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned official(s). HPSEBL 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load/cd in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. 4. Procedure for change of name when premises is sold to the applicant or gifted. Documents required to be submitted ( by the consumer in whose name the name is required to be changed) Charges to be deposited Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure 1) Certified copy of Sale 1) Security as per HPERC 1) Nil ; in case the existing Deed. 2) Approval of change of Security Regulation shall be paid by the new consumer. load/cd as per test report is same as sanctioned load. Name by the Industries The security deposited by Deptt. of HP in case of the old consumer shall be Industrial Consumer. refunded to the old 3) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 4) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/- 5) Test Report from Licensed Electrical Contractor. 6) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper to pay any outstanding liability if any become due by old consumer. 7) Board resolution for authorised signatory(if company). 8) Identity proof of new applicant. 9) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper for change of name consumer. 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer, along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned official(s). HPSEBL 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load/cd in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. 5. Procedure for change of name when premises is let out to the applicant Documents required to be submitted ( by the consumer in whose name Charges to be deposited Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 49

50 the name is required to be changed) 1) Legal document supporting such letting and NOC of the owner. 2) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 3) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/-. 4) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper from the owner to bear the outstanding liability of tenant if remain unpaid. 5) Identity proof of new applicant. 6) Self-certified undertaking/ Declaration on plain paper for change of name 1) Deposit will stand transferred if consent is given by the owner otherwise to be paid by the tenant and refunded to the owner. 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the tenant, along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned HPSEBL official(s). 1) Nil ; in case the existing load/cd as per test report is same as sanctioned load. 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load/cd in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. 6. Procedure for change of name due to allotment of residential accommodation by House Allotment Committee of Govt. Departments/Organisation Documents required to be Charges to be deposited submitted ( by the consumer in whose name the name is required to be changed) Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure 1) Allotment letter from the 1) Security as per HPERC 1) Nil ; in case the existing respective Govt. Department. 2) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 3) A&A form duly filled with Security Regulation shall be paid by the new consumer. The security deposited by the old consumer shall be load/cd as per test report is same as sanctioned load. one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. refunded to the old 10/-. consumer. 4) Identity proof of new 2) In case the load applicant. required is in excess of the 5) Self-certified undertaking/ existing sanctioned load, Declaration on plain paper for the additional security for change of name additional load as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load/cd in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. concerned HPSEBL official(s). 8) Premises is owned due to death of consumer (in whose name the electric connection exists). Documents required to be Charges to be deposited submitted ( by the consumer in whose name Security Deposit Recovery of Expenditure the name is required to be changed) Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 50

51 1) Death Certificate of the consumer in whose name the connection exists. 2) Legal heir certificate of the new consumer. 3) NOC from other legal heir than spouse of consumer. 4) Copy of current electricity Bill duly paid with no arrears. 5) A&A form duly filled with one cross Stamp Paper of Rs. 10/-. 6) Identity proof of new applicant. 7) Undertaking for change of name as per format. 1) Security for the existing load shall be transferred in the name of new consumer on giving undertaking as per Annexure-A. 2) In case the load required is in excess of the existing sanctioned load, the additional security for additional load as per HPERC (Security Deposit) Regulations shall be deposited by the new consumer, along with test report from Licensed Electrical Contractor, which may be verified by the concerned HPSEBL official(s). 1) Nil; in case the existing load as per test report is same as sanctioned load. 2) Normative IDC shall be charged as per rates prevailing at the time of name change on additional load in case total load required at consumer premises is more than the sanctioned load. INSTRUCTION No. 21 Connected Load Register (Form CS 24 )-Directions for Use of: 21.1 In every Sub-Division and Sub-office, a connected load register in Form CS-24 is intended to be maintained for the following purposes: Balancing the load on feeders by phases Anticipating the necessity for augmenting the capacities of feeders, switches, transformers etc Compilation of connection returns. These registers will be maintained by J.Es and entries made therein in accordance with following instructions: The opening entry in the register should be made on 1 st January from the connection return for the month of December. If the registers have already been put into force, the totals of the registers up to 31st December should be verified with the actual load and then carried over to 1 st January of the next year A separate register should be used for each sub-station.(for sub stations of smaller capacity only one register may be used allotting portion of it for each sub-station) Capacity of the transformer should be written on sheet No. I at the top. Capacity of the switch and cable/conductor should be written against the items provided for this purpose. These particulars need not be repeated on the subsequent sheet unless any change takes place Capacity of each feeder should be filled in and marked as (a) capacity Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 51

52 of the feeder switch should also be filled in and marked as (b). Feeder No. and its capacity should be written as under:-- Capacity in K.W (a) 200 (b) Capacity of each phase in each feeder should be calculated in KW and entered under the columns headed R, Y and B respectively. If desired, the capacity of each phase may also be worked out in amperes and entered below the letter R, Y and B The particulars referred under & should be repeated on each sheet In the case of 3 phase consumers the load of each consumer should be shown in column 19 but for the purposes of balancing of the load on various feeders and different phases in a feeder, the connected load of each 3 phase consumer should be proportioned amongst the three phases in a feeder As soon as a connection or a disconnection is made it should be recorded on the same day in the register, from the HPSEBL s installation test report or the disconnection order (as the case may be) and the words Entered in CS-24 Page.. should be recorded on the HPSEBL s installation test report or the disconnection order under dated initials of the official responsible for keeping the register The exact particulars of each consumer connected or disconnected should be entered in columns 2 to 14 and 16 to 19. In case of columns 20 to 37 progressive totals should be shown only under the columns affected and the figures in other columns need not be repeated Connections will be entered in blue ink and disconnections in red ink Each Register should be totaled on the last working day of the month and the connection return prepared from this register The register shall be initialed by the J.E. daily in token of the correctness of that day s entries and signed monthly by the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.). SECTION II Metering and Meter Rentals INSTRUCTION No. 22 Providing of energy meter -Meter Security & monthly Rentals: Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 52

53 22.1 HPSEBL will supply the meter and /or metering equipment to the applicant at the time of release of a new connection or at any other time as required by the consumer who will pay the monthly rental for such equipment at rates approved by the commission and specified in the Schedule of General and Service Charges of the relevant Tariff Order. However, if the consumer so elects, to obtain his own meter and/or metering equipment of the make as specification as per the CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations 2006, and amendments from time to time And the same after getting tested and sealed at HPSEBL s M&T Lab, be installed by the concerned field units. In such cases, the meter rent is not chargeable Meters will be installed at the consumer s premises according to mutual convenience of HPSEBL and the consumer. The consumer will be responsible for the protection of the meter for theft or damage and he shall promptly inform HPSEBL about any fault, accident and defect, theft etc HPSEBL may require a meter to be installed outside the premises of a consumer and in such an event, the entire cost of installing the meter outside the premises and providing a display unit within the premises will be borne by the licensee. However, the cost of display unit will be treated as part of the meter cost while determining meter rentals. In a case where the meter/metering equipment is installed by the licensee outside the premises of a consumer, the meter shall be protected by an appropriate enclosure for protection of at least IP class 55 and the consumer will not be responsible for the protection of the meter from theft or damage In the case of multi story buildings/apartments, meter/metering equipment may be installed near the entrance of the building or at any other mutually agreed convenient common space, provided that the cost of installation from the premises of a consumer to the common space is borne by the owner or an association/society of occupants/ owners. In such a case, the owner or association/society would also be required to ensure protection of the meter/metering equipment from theft or damage 22.2 Meter rentals: If the meter is supplied by HPSEBL, the consumer will have to pay the monthly meter rentals in accordance with the relevant Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges The consumer may if he so elects, obtain his own meter and/or metering equipment of the make(s) or specification, as per the CEA( Installation and Operation of Meters) Regualtions,2006 after getting duly tested and sealed by HPSEBL in its laboratory, will be installed by HPSEBL and no monthly rental will be paid by the consumer in such a case. The meter/metering equipment, after it is permanently removed from the HPSEBL s system, will be treated as consumer s asset 22.3 : Defective Meters:- Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 53

54 : Checking by HPSEBL : The concerned field units will check and test any meter if there is a reasonable doubt about accuracy etc. and metering equipment installed at a consumer s premises and the consumer will provide HPSEBL filed units all necessary assistance in conducting the test. The consumer will have the right to be present during such testing : Meter accuracy challenged by Consumer:- In case the consumer doubts about the accuracy of the meter installed at his premises, the following procedure may be followed:- 1) The concerned filed units will undertake site testing within seven days on payment of fee as specified in the Schedule of General Charges as approved by the Commission. 2) If on site testing, the meter is found to be defective then fee deposited will be refunded by adjustment in the electricity bill for the immediately succeeding months. In case the meter is found to be correct then the fee will not be refunded. The defective meter shall be replaced by concerned field unit in case found defective within the timelines as per schedule to HPERC(Distribution Performance Standard) Regualtions,2010 as amended from time to time. 3) In case consumer is not satisfied with the site testing of the meter installed in his premises or meter cannot be tested by concerned field units of HPSEBL at site then the meter will be removed and packed for testing in the laboratory of HPSEBL and duly tested meter will be installed at the premises of the consumer. However, in case of apprehension of tempering, the consumer and HPSEBL field units both can jointly seal the package and shall be broken in his presence in laboratory, if he so desires. 4) The consumer will be informed about the test date at least seven days in advance. The signature of consumer will be obtained, if present on test result sheet with a copy to the consumer In case a meter installed at a consumer's premises gets burnt/broken/defective or stop functioning, a new tested meter will be installed within time lines specified in the schedule to HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) 2010 [Provided that in case of failure of supply due to the burnt, broken, damaged or defective meter, the licensee shall endeavor to restore the supply on the same day by way of installation of new tested meter] If the meter gets burnt, broken or damaged due to the reasons attributed to the consumer, the HPSEB Ltd. will debit the cost of the meter (if provided by HPSEBL) to the consumer who will be informed about his liability to bear the cost. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 54

55 In case where a meter installed at a consumer s premises is reported to have been stolen and the FIR to this effect has been lodged by the consumer, supply of electricity will be immediately restored by HPSEBL at consumer s request by installing another tested meter and the cost of the meter shall be recovered from the consumer through electricity bills for the immediate succeeding months In case of consumer owned defective/burnt/broken meter, the replacement shall be made by way of a HPSEBL's owned meter till such time the consumer provides a new meter duly tested and the same is installed as per the provisions of the Supply Code HPSEBL is entitled to charge meter rental for the period in such a case, the HPSEBL's owned meter remains installed at consumer premises. INSTRUCTION No Meter Sealing: Meter Sealing After the meter has been tested in the M & T laboratory and found to be working within the limits of accuracy, the cover of the meter, which encloses the vital mechanism for the measurement and the recording of the energy consumed, lest it should be tampered with by any unauthorized person, will be sealed by the M & T Organization. The meter cover seals originally affixed by M & T unit should not be tampered with by other employees of HPSEBL. The meter terminal cover and M.C.B. seals will be affixed by the HPSEBL Officials in accordance with the following instructions:- 1 Domestic, NDNCS & Commercial Connections. Sealing of Meter Terminal cover and Meter By Junior Engineer/ AAE portion of M.C.B. 2 Sealing of Meters in Respect of HPSEBL s Employees Meter Terminal and Meter portion of M.C.B By SDO (A.E./A.E.E) 3 Agriculture/IDWPS/ Small Power and By SDO (A.E./A.E.E) Medium Supply Consumers/ Bulk Supply/Temporary Supply Consumers of connected Load upto 500 kw 4 HT/EHT Metering, where CT/PT are involved kw By SDO (A.E./A.E.E) 5 Above 500 kw (Also applies to all meters irrespective of the category of connection for which connected Load is more than 500 kw) Sr. Executive Engineer/ ASE Note: - 1. All such meters through which power is consumed by the employees of the HPSEBL have to be sealed by the concerned SDO (AE/AEE) irrespective of the fact whether the connection is in the name of the employee or any other private individual. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 55

56 2. At the time of release of connections, consumer s signatures should be obtained for M & T seals besides Meter Terminal seals being intact Resealing of Energy Meters: Meter Terminal Cover, Meter Cup-Board Seals: It should be ensured that seals affixed by the HPSEBL on the metering equipment always remain intact. Whenever breakage of seal comes to notice, the same should be replaced by the authority who had originally affixed it without any undue delay. In such cases where it is established that the seals were not broken by the HPSEBL employees but were affixed at the time of providing the connection, the necessary charges for re-sealing as provided in the relevant Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges Order should be recovered. Before resealing the meter terminal cover it should be ensured that the terminal connections of the meter including connection of C.Ts & P.Ts are in order. Further, the record of monthly consumption of such a consumer should also be seen to verify if his consumption in the last few months has not been abnormally low Meter Cover (M & T) Seals: In addition to recovering the resealing charges, as provided in the relevant Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges, it has further to be ensured that the seal has not been broken by the consumer intentionally with a view to indulge in theft of energy by tampering with the internal mechanism of the meter. In order, therefore, to plug this potential source of leakage of revenue, the following procedure should be adopted whenever any cases of the breakage of M & T or Meter cover seal comes to notice Meter Inspector/J.E. should immediately be deputed to visit the premises to find out by actually testing the meter at site (by putting on some load of known wattage and counting the revolutions of the disc for known period to be determined with the help of a stop watch) or with ERS meter whether the meter is working within the permissible limits of error. In such cases where the meter as a result of such testing is found to be running slow, say by more than 10%, the consumer should be asked to give an undertaking in writing before meter is replaced that he will pay the additional charges if the meter is found to be running slow through actual testing by M&T officers. However, in such a case where the meter is found to be inoperative or is suspected to have been tampered-with, the consumer should be asked to deposit the cost of the meter on receipt of the report of Executive Engineer, M & T. As for billing the consumer for the period the meter remained inoperative or inaccurate, the procedure adopted in case of inoperative meter should be followed After removing the old meter a new meter should be installed after charging meter changing fee in addition to resealing charges as per Schedule of Tariff and General & Service Charges. The meter on removal should be sent to the M & T laboratory within a maximum period of 15 days & the account of the consumer should be adjusted immediately on the receipt of the test results from M & T Lab. of HPSEBL, whose report shall be got expedited within a month. The provisions of Supply Code shall be applied for such adjustment of Consumer account. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 56

57 Meter reading: INSTRUCTION No. 24 Recording of meter reading of different categories of consumers 24.1 The meter of a consumer will be read on the specific days in a billing month/period and such days will be publicized in advance by displaying the information on the office notice Board of sub-division office. The meter reading of different categories of consumers is required to be recorded by the following officers/officials:- S. No category 1 (i) All Domestic consumers (ii) Commercial, NDNCS and Temporary supply consumers having connected load up to 20kW 2 Commercial & NDNCS consumers having connected load above 20kW, Temporary consumers having connected load greater than 20 kw and upto 50 kw, Small Industrial, Water & irrigation Pumping Supply (WIPS), Street Lighting Supply (SLS) and the employees of the HPSEBL residing in HPSEB Ltd. Colonies 3 Medium Industrial, Bulk and Grid Supply consumers, Temporary Supply Consumers above 50 kw 4 Large Industrial Power Supply consumer (i) Up to & including 500kW load (ii) Above 500kW load (Also applies to all meters irrespective of the category of connection for which connected Load is more than 500 kw) Official Meter Reader/MLC Junior Engineer/ (JE/ AAE) Sub-Divisional Officer (AE/ AEE/ Executive Engineer) Sub-Divisional Officer (AE/ AEE / Executive Engineer) Sr. Executive Engineer / ASE Billing Cycle Bi-monthly for Rural Area & monthly for Urban Area Monthly irrespective of the Rural/ Urban Area Monthly Monthly Monthly Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 57

58 24.2 Billing Cycle Billing cycle shall be as per the table in 24.1 above. In extreme case, the billing cycle should not be more than bi-monthly in case of the tribal and difficult areas, except for the winter months for which the billing cycle shall not be more than 4 months Where billing cycle is of more than one month, the consumer shall have option to pay, monthly or periodic charges, on average or estimated consumption charges basis or any other basis without waiting for bills to be issued. Such amount will be treated as advance and adjusted in the regular bills to be issued subsequently 24.3 Induction training for Meter readers: Whenever any Meter Readers/Meter Ledger Clerks are appointed afresh, such officials may be imparted training for meter reading for about a week by deputing them along with other experienced officials for meter reading. The training should be imparted immediately after the joining of concerned officials and before they are deputed for taking the meter readings independently. INSTRUCTION No. 25 Procedure to be followed when a meter is reported to be damaged or burnt: 25.1 In order to avoid consumer s complaints and to safeguard the interest of the HPSEBL as well as that of the consumer it is necessary that a thorough and detailed enquiry be made whenever a meter on the consumer s premises is reported dead stop, damaged or burnt. Before the meter is replaced the site should be inspected by SDO (A.E/A.E.E.)/J.E. in each case. However, ordinary cases of general meters reported dead stop by meter Clerks and Meter inspectors/(j.e.-installation) may be inspected by the J.E. The SDO (A.E./A.E.E.)/J.E. should carry out investigation and record his report on the following lines to determine as to what extent the damage to meter is due to the default/negligence on the part of consumer or otherwise Whether the seal of M.C.B, meter terminal cover/meter cover (and of P.T. and C.T. fuses, if installed) are intact Whether there are any unauthorized extensions Any outward and physical signs of damage Any leakage of rain water in to the equipment or meter Any lightning effect Any sign of spark-over at the terminals Any other causes The first report of the J.E. (on the proforma) above indicating various conditions and weather report etc., along with the specific comments/ recommendations as to whether the cost of repair/ replacement of the meter should be recovered from the consumer or not, shall be submitted by the concerned J.E. to SDO (A.E./A.E.E.). In case where the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) is satisfied that the damage to the meter is due to lightening or any other reason beyond the reasonable control of the consumer, Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 58

59 he shall after recording the reasons of the damage in writing order the meter to be replaced. In cases M.C.O immediately after receipt of report and it has to be ensured that replacement should be done as per timelines specified in HPERC(Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations,2010. In such cases the cost of the meter shall not be recovered from the consumer. All such cases shall be got countersigned subsequently by the Senior Executive Engineer concerned, before sending these damage/burnt meters to M & T Laboratory for repair In other cases where the SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) is of the opinion that the damage is due to the reasons other than lightning or not beyond the reasonable control of the consumer, the damaged/ burnt meter shall be replaced after charging the cost of the meter from the consumer. In cases where it has been established that the replacement is attributable to the consumer, the consumer shall be served the notice for recovery of meter cost immediately after receipt of report. The concerned AE/AEE of Sub-Division should immediately issue the M.C.O after the receipt of payment from consumer, so that the timeframe specified under clause F to the schedule of the HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations 2010, for replacement of damaged/ stopped/ burnt/defective meter and meter is replaced within the timelines given in the HPERC(Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations,2010 The damaged meter shall then be sent as soon as possible to M & T Laboratory through a separate forwarding memo alongwith the report on the proforma to intimate the details of damage along with the probable reasons of the damage. The concerned M&T Officers/Field Officers shall immediately assess the probable cost of the repair and intimate the same to the consumer with in 24 hours. In case of failure of supply due to the burnt/ damaged meter, it shall be endeavored to restore the supply on the same day by way of installation of new tested meter. The meter should be replaced by the concerned field units within the timelines mentioned in the Clause F of schedule to HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations 2010 as amended from time to time. However, for reference the relevant portion is reproduced below:- Sr. Nature of Service Maximum Minimum No. Timelines for Compensation to rendering the individual consumer service for default F Consumers Defective/Stopped/Burnt Meter/Metering Equipment Replacement (*)- (I) LT Consumers Urban Areas a) (1) Replacement not attributable to consumer s fault 56 working hrs from the date of registration of the complaint (2) Replacement attributable to consumer s fault such as tampering, defect in consumer s installation, meter getting wet, connecting unauthorized additional load etc. and the cost of the meter is recoverable from the consumer and meter is to be supplied by the licensee (i) Serving a notice to the 56 working hrs from Rs.100/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit Rs.100/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 59

60 consumer for recovery the date of of cost of the meter registration of complaint. (ii) Replacement of meter 56 working hrs after receiving the payment from the consumer (iii) Replacement of meter if consumer is providing the meter. (b) Rural and remote Areas (1) Replacement not attributable to consumer s fault 56 working hrs from the receipt of the meter from the consumer and after the corrective action, if any, is taken by the consumer. 120 working hrs from the date of registration of the complaint (2) Replacement attributable to consumer s fault such as tampering, defect in consumer s installation, meter getting wet, connecting unauthorized additional load etc. and the cost of the meter is recoverable from the consumer and meter is to be supplied by the licensee (i) Serving a notice to the 56 working hrs from consumer for recovery the date of of cost of the meter registration of complaint. (ii) Replacement of meter 120 working hrs after receiving the payment from the consumer and after necessary corrective action, if any, is taken by the consumer. (II) (iii) Replacement of meter if consumer is providing the meter. 120 working hrs from the receipt of the meter from the consumer and after the necessary corrective action, if any, is taken by the consumer. HT Consumers(for Urban, Rural and Remote Areas) Replacement not attributable to Seven days after consumer s fault receipt of complaint, provided the meter is available with HPSEBL, otherwise within one month. Replacement attributable to consumer s fault such as tampering, defect in consumer s installation, meter Rs.100/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit Rs.100/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit. Rs.400/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit Rs.400/- for each day of default beyond maximum specified time limit. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 60

61 getting wet, connecting unauthorized additional load etc. and the cost of the meter is recoverable from the consumer and meter is to be supplied by the licensee (i) Serving a notice to the consumer for recovery of cost of the meter (ii) Replacement of meter (iii) Replacement of meter if consumer is providing the meter. 7 days from the date of receipt of complaint/ information. 7 days after receiving the payment from the consumer provided the meter is available with HPSEBL, otherwise within one month. 7 days from registration of complaint. The field units must endeavor to replace the meters much earlier than the above timelines in particular in case of failure of supply On receipt of the requisite report from M & T Laboratory SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) shall, keeping in view the report of SDO (A.E./A.E.E.)/ Xen, M & T, recommend to the Xen (Op.), of as to whether any part of the cost of the meter earlier recovered from the consumer should be refunded to the consumer. Executive Engineer shall then pass the necessary orders as to what portion of the cost of the meter should be refunded/ adjusted and the amount got deposited from the consumer shall then be adjusted in accordance with the orders passed by the Executive Engineer. Where the person is a consumer, the refund will be allowed through adjustment in the electricity bills of the immediately succeeding months. INSTRUCTION No. 26 Difference or dispute over the Accuracy of energy meter and Overhauling of Consumer accounts: In case the meter at consumers premises is found to be beyond the accuracy the following procedure may be adopted: If a meter on testing is found to be beyond the limits of accuracy as specified in the regulations framed by the authority under section 55 of the Act, the electricity charges for all categories of consumers will be computed in accordance with the said test results for a period of six months immediately preceding- a) the date of test in case the meter has been tested at site to the satisfaction of the consumer; or b) the date on which the defective meter is removed for testing in the laboratory of HPSEBL, where such testing is undertaken at the instance of HPSEBL; or Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 61

62 c) the date of receipt of request from the consumer for testing of a meter in the laboratory of HPSEBL. Any evidence provided by the consumer about conditions of working and/or occupancy of the concerned premises during the said period(s) which might have a bearing on electricity consumption, will, however be taken in to consideration The accounts of a consumer will be overhauled for the period a burnt/defective meter remained at site, on the basis of energy consumption of the corresponding period of the previous year after calibrating for the changes in load, if any. In case the average consumption for the corresponding period of the previous year is not available then the consumer will be tentatively billed for the consumption to be assessed in the manner indicated in Clause No (ii) of HP Electricity Supply Code and subsequently adjusted on the basis of actual consumption in the corresponding period of the succeeding year If a consumer is liable to pay an additional amount or is entitled for a refund in consequence of an overhaul of his account in accordance with 26.1 and 26.2, HPSEBL will effect recovery or adjust the excess amount in the electricity bills of the immediately succeeding months CT/PT meters: In case of CT/PT meters where the accuracy of the meter is not involved and it is a case of incorrect connections, defective CTs/PTs, genuine calculations & mistakes etc., charges would be adjusted in favour of the HPSEBL/ consumer as the case may be for the period the mistake/ defect continued In case of replacement of either CT/PT or Meter due to any reason, the corresponding multiplication factor has not been changed and bills are issued on wrong multiplication factor, the revised bills will be issued for correct multiplication factor for the period from replacement of either meter or CT/PT to the date mistake has been noticed correct bill will be issued thereafter. INSTRUCTION No. 27 Testing charges if the meter is got tested from HPSEBL Laboratories: 27.1 The HPSEB Ltd. is required to maintain adequate number of accredited testing laboratories as per the standards prescribed by the national Accreditation Board for testing & Calibration laboratories (NABL) and all such laboratories will at least be equipped with testing equipments as provided in the regulations framed by the authority under section 55 of the Act Charges as prescribed in the Schedule of General & Service Charges shall be recovered from the consumer. In the event where consumers purchase the meter from the market it should be tested by M&T lab & should have specification, as per the CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regualtions,2006 and its amendments. HPSEBL should publish the features of the meters for various types of consumers on its website for the information of consumers. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 62

63 Compliance of Meter Change Orders: INSTRUCTION No The Junior Engineer should immediately return the meter change order after compliance to the Sub-Divisional Office within time frame as specified under clause F of the schedule to HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations In case the change of meter is not possible within the time stipulated period due to non-availability of meter or any other reasons, the Junior Engineers should return the M.C.O. to the Sub-Divisional Office concerned on the expiry of time frame period as above, who would then record reasons for non-compliance of the M.C.O under his signatures. The SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) should also send a report of such un-complied M.C.Os to the Executive Engineer concerned after every month who would take suitable steps for making the Meters available to the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) / consumer at the earliest. For ready reference, the time frame as specified under clause F of the schedule to HPERC (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations 2010, for replacement of defective/stopped/burnt/damaged meters is reproduced in Instruction No. 25 above which may be referred. : The concerned AE/AEE should issue MCO expeditiously so that the timelines are complied A monthly review of the number of MCO carried out and pending MCOs shall be done by the Executive Engineers who should send a quarterly reports about the number of cases where the change of defective/dead stop meters is delayed due to non-availability of meters, to the Superintending Engineer and concerned Chief Engineer. INSTRUCTION No. 29 Replacement of defective and dead stop meters at consumer s Premises --- Utilization procedure for new meters, old T&P static meters and repaired T&P static meters: 29.1 In order to facilitate optimum utilization of meters, following procedure for the replacement of defective/dead stop meters at consumer s premises vis-à-vis utilization of new meters, old T&P static meters and repaired T&P static meters for granting new connections, reconnections etc. will be adopted: 29.2 Defective and dead stop energy meters at consumer premises shall be replaced as per the following arrangement: The dead stop/ defective meters must be replaced with static meters only either by Utilizing the available old T&P static meters and repaired T&P static meters New connections / reconnections shall be given by utilizing the available old T&P static meters and repaired static T&P meters in all areas including respective scheme areas even if such meters were originally charged to schemes other than respective scheme. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 63

64 SECTION---III Preparation and Delivery of Bills INSTRUCTION No Electricity Bills: The bills shall be issued to the consumers for electricity supplied or for services rendered for every billing cycle and all the consumers will effect payments to the HPSEBL within the time specified in the supply code at designated offices of HPSEBL When supply of electricity to a new consumer is commenced in the middle of a billing cycle, the fixed charges, minimum charges and/or any other similar charges will be levied pro-rata for the number of days for which supply is given during the billing cycle The consumers will pay on a pro-rata basis in case any tariff/other charges are made applicable in the middle of a billing cycle In the event of supply of electricity to any category of consumers being fully or partially subsidized by the State Government, the State Government in the manner specified by the Commission will effect payment of electricity subsidy charges for such consumers to the HPSEBL (a) A consumer bill will disclose the periodicity of billing, date when the meter was read, the date of issue of bill, the due date for payment and the additional amount payable in case payment is delayed. (b) The bill for arrears, in case of underassessment or the charges levied as a result of checking etc., will be initially tendered separately, indicating in bill the nature, period of arrears, the number and amount of installments allowed and the arrear will not be clubbed with the current electricity bill. Subsequently the amount of said arrear bill shall be reflected in the next billing cycle till not paid. For purpose(s) of action(s) of HPSEBL on non-payment of billed amount, the arrear amount shall be accounted as per of final bill due of any billing cycle. However in case any amount of the bill is disputed by the consumer, such disputed amount as well as the late payment surcharge thereon shall also be reflected, and continue to be reflected, separately in the ledgers, till such time such amount remains unpaid/unsettled, so that total updated quantum of such disputed amount is readily available. Such details shall be made available to the consumer on request The meter of a consumer will be read on the specified days in a billing month/period and such days will be publicised in advance. However, where meter is installed outside the consumer s premises Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 64

65 and a display unit installed inside the premises, the readings of the consumer meter and not the display unit will be taken into account for billing purposes A meter reading card will be provided by the field units to each consumer which will be readily available at the premises where a meter is installed and the meter reader will, except in case of remote reading, enter the meter reading and the date thereof in the said meter reading card. Any officer/ functionary authorized by a licensee who cross-checks meter readings or replaces a meter and/or its seals will also record the changes in the reading, meter and/or its seals, as the case may be, in the meter reading card The electricity and/or arrear bills (hereinafter referred as bills unless otherwise specifically stated) will be sent to the consumers, other than the HT/EHT category, either by post or by hand delivery and in case of HT/EHT consumers, either under certificate of posting or by hand delivery. The fact of dispatch of bills to consumers of a particular area will be displayed on the notice board at the designated office of the licensee. The loss of the bill in transit if sent by post will not be the responsibility of the licensee. In case of hand delivery, record of delivery of the bill will be maintained at the designated office of the licensee Each Sub-Division offices will maintain facilities to provide duplicate bills, at charges as fixed by the Commission from time to time in the Tariff Order, immediately on request from a consumer. Non-receipt of the bill, however, will not entitle a consumer to delay payment beyond the due date The concerned Sub-Division will issue the first bill for a new connection, released during a billing cycle, before the end of the next billing cycle. In case a consumer does not receive the first bill by the end of the next billing cycle, he will inform the concerned Sub-Division Office of HPSEB Ltd. who will arrange for issue of the bill within ten days It will be the responsibility of the owner of a premises to get a special reading done by the HPSEBL filed Officers at the time of change of occupancy or on the premises falling vacant. The owner or occupier may request the licensee in writing for a special reading at least 15 days in advance of such a change. The concerned field units will arrange a special reading and deliver the final bill, including all arrears till the date of billing, within 7 days of the meter reading. The final bill will also include payment for the period between the date of special reading and the proposed vacation of the premises on a pro-rata basis on consumption pattern of the current billing cycle If a consumer vacates any premises to which electricity has been supplied by a licensee without paying all charges due from him in respect of such supply, or for the provision of an electricity meter, electric line or electrical plant, the licensee may refuse to give him supply at any other premises until he pays the amount due. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 65

66 INSTRUCTION NO. 31 Issue, presentation and due date of the bill: 31.2 The schedule of billing fixed by the competent authority in line with in line with the provisions of H.P. Electricity Supply Code 2009, shall be followed meticulously by the concerned field units so as to deliver the bills in time and to allow the consumers the required time period to pay the bill. The example with specific reference to Industrial Consumers is as under: Date of reading 25 th to 30 th /31 st of the month (reading month) as per billing cycle Preparation & Delivery of bills 1 st to 6 th of billing month ( next to reading month) However, in case of large industrial power supply consumers, the bills shall also be delivered through and SMS within a period of 2days after bill generation. However, efforts should be made to follow this practice in respect of other category of consumers also Payments of bills by the consumer Within a period of 10 days from the date of delivery of bills (i.e. by 17 th of month) in case of Large, Medium and small Industrial Supply consumers and within a period of 15 days from the date of delivery of bills (i.e. by 22 nd of month) in case of all other categories [refer clause No. 5.3 (i) of the Supply Code] Notice for default in payment Immediately after due date of payment of bill Example: 1. Date of reading 2. Date of delivery of bill 3. Payment of bill w.e.f. up to 4. Notice for default in payment to to to for industrial consumers and for rest Immediately after due date of payment of bill Note: - In case there is holiday on the above dates, the schedule will shift to next working day accordingly. This schedule will be displayed on the notice board in the respective office Date of presentation: Date of presentation shall mean the second day after the date of any bill rendered by HPSEBL. The bill will be delivered to the consumer immediately in case of spot Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 66

67 billing and in other cases with in a period not exceeding twelve days from the date of meter reading. Note: In case of Large Industrial Power Supply Consumers, the bill shall also be delivered to the respective consumers through and SMS within a period not exceeding 2 days from generation of bills Due date of payment of Bills. The payment of the bills by different categories of consumers will be effected with in a period of :- i) Ten days (10) from the date of delivery of bills in case of large Supply, Medium Supply and Small Industrial consumers; and ii) Fifteen days (15) from the date of delivery of bills in case of all other categories of consumers. The consumer(s) covered under Large Industrial Power Supply category and other consumers covered under computerized billing shall be issued reminder through SMS one day prior to due date. INSTRUCTION No. 32 Procedure to be followed when issue of bill is delayed: 32.1 In order to ensure that all the consumers are afforded the full period of grace, the bill clerk should see while preparing the bill that the date given to that bill should be the date on which it is intended to be issued so that it should be presented to the consumer on the correct date The date of every consumer s bill in the same group should normally be the same every month during the period he remains connected to the HPSEBL s supply system so that he knows his due date without reference to each month s bill. The bill should be rendered regularly and punctually to each consumer on the same date as far as possible. Normally no change should be made in the meter reading or billing program Should for unavoidable reasons a bill is issued on a date later than that actually given on it, the date of the bill and the due date must be corrected as illustrated below before issuing it and the consumer asks for such a correction or makes the payment on a date which falls within the corrected due date, the request of the consumer should be acceded if his complaint about late delivery of the bill is corroborated by the peon book or the stamp register or received in local complaint office/ call center. The correction in the date of the bill should be made under dated initials of the Cashier which should be countersigned on the receipt voucher by the SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) Concerned. Example--Date of bill (Say): Due date printed on bill: Actual date of the delivery of bill: Correct due date which should have been quoted in the bill: (date actually appearing on the bill) Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 67

68 32.4 If the due date indicated in the bill for payment is Sunday or a public holiday as declared by the State Government or the HPSEB Ltd s office is closed for any other reason, the next working day will be treated as the due date. Delivery of Bills to Consumer: INSTRUCTION No The electricity and/or arrear bills (hereinafter referred as bills unless otherwise specifically stated) will be sent to the consumers, other than the HT/EHT category, either by post or by hand delivery and in case of HT/EHT consumers, in addition to the hand delivery of bills, the bills shall also be delivered through and SMS. The fact of dispatch of bills to consumers of a particular area will be displayed on the notice board at the designated office of HPSEBL. The loss of the bill in transit if sent by post will not be the responsibility of HPSEBL. In case of hand delivery, record of delivery of the bill will be maintained at the designated office of HPSEBL It may sometimes happen that the peon/bill distributor is unable to deliver the HPSEBL s bill [Form CA-43 (a)] to a consumer for any of the following reasons: Premises are found locked and nobody is present to take the delivery of the bill Consumer is not present and none of his representatives is ready to take delivery of the bill Consumer is present but refuses to take delivery of the bill The following procedure may be adopted in case any of the above consequences arise:- As soon as it is reported by the Bill distributor that he has been unable to deliver the bill to a certain consumer, a notice Bill for the month of.for Rs should be prepared and sent through registered post in case of situations mentioned at Sl. No If the letter is received back undelivered, efforts should be made to find out the where-about of the consumer through some of the officials or from the neighbourer so that the Registered A.D. letter should be re-directed at the new address. The expenditure incurred in sending such notice should be debited to office contingency. INSTRUCTION No. 34 Bills of consumers whose premises are found locked at the time of meter reading: 34.1 As soon as it is reported by the Meter Reader that the premises of a certain consumer is found locked and the meter reading for rendering the bill to the consumer could not be taken, a notice in form CS 26 Access to consumer premises should be prepared and sent to the consumer through HPSEBL s official Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 68

69 who shall obtain the initials of the consumer in Peon Book/office copy in token of his having received the notice. In the notice, it should be pointed out that for the period the premises remains locked, the consumer, in accordance with the provisions of schedule of tariff and schedule of general and service charges will be charged meter rental and consumer service charge etc. whether or not any energy is consumed during that period If however, the authorized official is unable to locate the consumer, the notice should be sent through registered post. If the Registered letter is also received back undelivered, efforts should be made to discover (say from his neighbourer) the whereabouts of the consumer and Registered Acknowledgement Due letter sent at his new address. The expenditure incurred in sending such notices should be debited to the office contingency and not to consumer in question After the expiry of the notice period if no reply is received from the consumer some official, say Junior Engineer or Meter Reader, may be deputed to visit the premises and verify the facts on the spot. If all the efforts to get access to the meter fail, the premises should be disconnected from the nearest tee or pole, ensuring that other consumers from service main are not affected. INSTRUCTION No. 35 Payment of Bills and Disputed Electricity Bills: 35.1 Payment of Bills: The consumer is required to pay the electricity bills within the time period as per clause No of Supply Code as also mentioned above at Sl. No The consumer can pay the bills at collection centers of HPSEBL, Lokmitra Kendra, Sugam Centre, Post Office, online by net banking / debit/credit cards/rtgs/neft/authorised Payment Gateway, by local cheque, banker s cheque, demand draft, bank transfer etc. as per his convenience The concerned Sub-Division should not accept cash payment if the total amount payable exceeds Rs.10000/ In case the cheque tendered by a consumer is not honoured by the bank, action may be initiated by HPSEBL treating it as a case of non-payment without prejudice to other rights of HPSEBL as per other laws in force. The licensee may not accept further payment through cheques from such a consumer for a period of one year from the billing month for which the cheque tendered by the consumer was not honoured and the consumer may be required to pay the bill in cash or by demand draft only In case the consumer does not pay the bill by due date, late payment surcharge shall be payable at the rates as per relevant Schedule of Tariff and General and Service charges and the unpaid amount will be treated as a part of next bill and shall be separately shown as outstanding arrear in relevant column of bill without prejudice to right of HPSEBL to disconnect the supply to the consumer Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 69

70 for nonpayment within 15 days. The action for disconnection of supply will be taken as per provisions of Supply Code and Act The total amount of current energy bill shall be accepted in order to improve the collection efficiency and AT&C losses of the utility. However, in case energy bill for a particular month is much more than the average monthly bill, may be due to any reason, the part payment allowed under HP Electricity supply code, clause no shall be regulated as under:- 1) The part payment is allowed only in case the current bill is more than 50% of the average monthly bill proceeding 12 months from the month of current energy bill. 2) In order to avoid accumulation of outstanding amount due to the part payment and its impact on AT&C losses and chances of outstanding amount becoming bad debit, the part payment in respect of a consumer is allowed only twice in a financial year with minimum gap of six months between each part payment. 3) The part payment is to be made in two installments. The first installment shall be equivalent to the monthly average of 12 months preceding the current month and balance shall be paid with surcharge in next monthly bill. In case consumer does not pay the same in next month, the action for disconnection should be implemented as per standard practice. 4) In case the security of the consumer with HPSEBL is less than the average twelve months bills, the security should be revised to average monthly bills calculated above before accepting the part payment for the current month. 5) This shall not be applicable for the consumer when the current monthly bill has increased due to load extension or reconnection of supply after TDCO or PDCO or tariff revision etc. 6) The part payment shall be deemed to be without prejudice to HPSEBL s right to disconnect the supply to the consumer for nonpayment, unless HPSEBL specifically undertakes not to initiate any action to disconnect the supply for non-payment of such outstanding amount for certain period. 7) The competent authority to allow the part payment under this mechanism is the authority who having competency to sanction the load of the consumer Hours of receiving Cash: Hours of receiving cash from the consumers in respect of payment of Bills etc. in respect of all HPSEBL Collection Centers are fixed as under:- Monday to Friday 10.00AM to 02.00PM Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 70

71 On Saturday second and fourth Saturday AM to 2.00 PM on all Saturdays except These timings shall be applicable for all the Operation Sub-Divisions in Urban as well as Rural areas. Note:- Local cheque for the purpose of payment of electricity bill may be considered as cheque from any bank situated at the station of sub-division office, at par cheque from the bank with branch of that bank at the station where sub-division is located Disputed Electricity Bills: A consumer will effect full payment of the billed amount even if it is disputed one, failing which HPSEBL may initiate action treating it as a case of non-payment: Provided that no action will be initiated if such a consumer deposits, under protest - (a) an amount equal to the sum claimed from him, or (b) the electricity charges for each month calculated on the basis of average charge for electricity paid by him during the preceding six months, whichever is less, pending disposal of any dispute between him and HPSEBL HPSEBL, after the receipt of a complaint from a consumer in its designated office, decide the billing dispute within twenty four hours if no additional information is required and within ten days, if additional information is required If on examination of a complaint, HPSEBL finds a bill to be erroneous, a revised bill will be issued to the consumer indicating a revised due date of payment, which will not be earlier than ten days from the date of delivery of the revised bill to the consumer. If the amount paid by the consumer under para is in excess of the revised bill, such excess amount will be refunded through adjustment first against any outstanding amount due to HPSEBL and then against the amount becoming due to HPSEBL immediately thereafter. HPSEBL will pay to such consumer interest on the excess amount at rate as per clause No of Supply Code,2009 from the date of payment till such time the excess amount is adjusted If HPSEBL finds the bill to be correct, the consumer will be intimated accordingly and will be required to pay the balance amount, if any, alongwith additional charges for delayed payment from the due date, initially stipulated in the bill In case the consumer is not satisfied with the decision of HPSEBL, he may after effecting payment in terms of para seek redressal in accordance with the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission ( Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) Regulations, 2013 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 71

72 SECTION IV Recovery of Unpaid dues from Defaulting Consumers INSTRUCTION No. 36 Disconnection and Reconnection of Power Supply: 36.1 Disconnection of supply for default in payment or due to other reasons HPSEBL may order disconnection of supply in following cases- a) In case of default in payment of dues and charges: (paras and of this manual below); (b) in case of default in payment of assessed amount{paras and 8.1.2(iv) of HP Electricity Supply Code} ; (c) in case of the unauthorized reconnection of supply disconnected{ paras and (ii) of this manual below }; (d) in case of contributing harmonics in excess of specified standards (para of HP Electricity Supply Code); (e) on the request of the consumer under { paras , and (iii) ( c ) of this Manual below (f) upon detection of theft of electricity under sub-section (1- A) of section- 135 of the Act; { paras 6.2.1(h) of HP Electricity Supply code and of this manual below}; (g) to prevent loss of human or animal life or injury to a human being or any animal or damage to property; (h) to comply with statutory/lawful orders, directions issued by the competent authority in exercise of its powers vested under any law passed by a competent legislature with prior intimation to the consumer Where a consumer fails to deposit, the billed amount or any sum other than the charge for electricity due from him, with HPSEBL by the due date mentioned in the bill, the licensee may, after giving not less than fifteen days clear notice in writing to such consumer and without prejudice to his other rights to recover such amount, disconnect supply to the consumer temporarily and for that purpose disconnect any electric supply line or other works being the property of such a licensee. The Officer In-Charge of Sub-Division/Sub-Office shall ensure that all the cases pertaining to default of payment(s) / temporary disconnections are monitored regularly and where default in payment(s) is continued for a period of six months, from the date of the payment first became due, the supply may be disconnected permanently: Provided that the supply of electricity shall not be disconnected :- (i) if a consumer makes payment under protest as per paras , and 5.7 of HP Supply Code; (ii) if any sum is not recoverable as per para 5.7 of HP Electricity Supply code. Provided further that, save in the case of theft of electricity or prevention of loss or damage to life and property, the supply of electricity to a consumer Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 72

73 will not be disconnected on holiday and on a day when the next day is a holiday in the offices of the licensee In case of continued default in payment of any amount, payable to HPSEBL by any consumer for a period of more than six months, HPSEBL may terminate the agreement executed with the consumer in accordance with the Conditions of Supply and remove the electric line or works connected with the supply of electricity to the consumer In case HPSEBL discovers that the supply to the premises disconnected under para , has been unauthorizedly restored through a live connection of other premises, notice to the consumer of such live connection be given to stop such unauthorized supply to the disconnected premises immediately, failing which pending dues of the disconnected connection shall be transferred to his account and non-payment of such transfer of dues may be dealt with as provided under para apart from other action(s) as per the provision(s) of the Act HPSEBL may take steps to prevent unauthorized re-connection of such connection disconnected under para , wherever it discovers that connection has been reconnected and attracts provisions of Section 138 of the Act then the licensee may initiate action as per the provisions of the Act In case the consumer desires his connection to be disconnected permanently, he shall apply for the same. The concerned officers who is authorized to take reading of the meter of consumer as per Instruction No 24.1 shall carry out special reading. The office/officer responsible for raising the bill shall then prepare final bill, including all arrears up to the date of such billing within five days from such request In case the consumer desires that his connection be disconnected temporarily for a period up to six months then he shall apply for the same on the format prescribed and shall be liable to pay in advance all charges that are fixed in nature like demand charge, meter rent etc. as per the relevant schedule. The consumer shall also be liable to pay reconnection charges to avail the facility of temporary disconnection. The period of disconnection on request can be extended on receipt of a request in writing The supply may be disconnected temporarily or on permanent basis as per procedure given hereunder:- (i) The service line, meter etc. may not be removed in case of temporary disconnection. HPSEBL shall remove service line, meter etc. after permanent disconnection; (ii) The concerned officer In-charge of sub-division may remove service line/cable after approval of load sanctioning authority if he has sufficient reason(s) to believe that the consumer, in case of temporary disconnection, shall resort to unauthorized use of electricity. However, meter shall not be removed in such cases. (iii) The demand charges during the period temporary disconnection for any of the reasons, shall be levied as per schedule of tariff on 10% of the sanctioned contract demand in addition to the fixed charges such as meter rent etc. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 73

74 iv) The consumer is also having an option to permanently surrender a part of the contract demand during the temporary disconnection period, in such an event the demand charges shall be levied for 10% of the balance contract demand. (v) The supply shall be disconnected permanently in following cases: - (a) with the termination of the agreement; (b) if the removal of the cause for which the supply was disconnected temporarily is not within the period allowed for the removal of such cause or if the proof of removal of the cause for disconnection is not produced to the satisfaction of the HPSEBL s employee deputed for the purpose; (c) on request of the consumer as per para For all cases of temporary and permanent disconnection(s)- (a) if dues are not paid by the consumer, the delayed payment surcharge, as per relevant schedule of tariff shall be levied up to the date of permanent disconnection, and (b) the security deposit s amount shall be adjusted in the final bill Not withstanding anything contained to the contrary herein, the disconnections on account of theft of electricity, shall be dealt with in accordance with the para 6.2 of HP Electricity Supply Code Restoration of supply of electricity i) As a commercial organization, HPSEBL can ill afford to allow accumulation of dues from the consumers. It is, therefore, imperative that every effort is made by the field offices to see that the consumers make the payment of their energy bills as soon as these become due for payment. Necessary steps should be taken by the staff concerned so that dues do not accumulate and the arrear do not become bad debts. ii) The in charge of Sub-Division may disconnect the supply to all the consumers irrespective of quantum of load and supply voltage except the essential services like LWSS, Hospital and Street Light etc. being responsible for billing and collection. In case the payment is not received against the essential services, the concerned AE/AEE of ESD shall refer the case along with details of such consumers with outstanding arrears to concerned CE(Op) for obtaining the decision of competent authority of HPSEBL. The authority competent in such cases is Director(Op), Director(Tech.) and MD HPSEBL shall resume supply of electricity within twenty-four hours from the time the consumer- (a) makes good the default and /or pays outstanding payment, (b) pays the prescribed amount as per the relevant Schedule of Tariff, for reconnecting the supply of electricity, (c) pays the consumer service charges/ fixed charges for the period of disconnection and the additional charges for the delayed payment: In case the consumer is permanently disconnected and agreement is terminated with or without adjustment of security deposited with HPSEBL, the consumer service charges and fixed charges such as demand charges etc. shall be levied for the period of temporary disconnection of supply. However, in case of permanent Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 74

75 disconnection, the amount still remains outstanding after adjustment of security, the surcharge for delayed payment shall be levied up to the date of application for restoration of supply after permanent disconnection. Provided that in case of permanent disconnection, if the electric line or plant supplying electricity to the consumer is/are removed by HPSEBL then HPSEBL will restore supply after undertaking the work(s) for providing the electric line or plant within the time specified in the case of a new connection and the consumer will deposit charges as if a new connection is being released: Provided, further that in case of temporary disconnection, if the electric line or plant supplying electricity to the consumer is/are removed by HPSEBL then HPSEBL will restore supply after undertaking the work(s) for providing the electric line or plant within the time specified in the case of a new connection Supply to the consumer will be immediately reconnected, if HPSEBL reasonably believes that the circumstances leading to the disconnection were actually an omission on the part of HPSEBL. In such an event, no charges on any account will be recoverable from the consumer Restoration of supply after temporary disconnection:- Reconnection order in form CS-12 will be issued to carry out the job of reconnection of service line. Normally the supply would be restored on the same terms and conditions as existed before temporary disconnection Restoration of supply after permanent Disconnection:- The consumer may request for restoration of supply after permanent disconnection. The necessary formalities at the time of reconnection may be done as required for release of new connection. The procedure to be followed and recovery of expenditure shall be as follows: The original consumer or some other person applies for a connection at such premises which has been permanently disconnection. 1) In case the service line has not been removed or used for release of connection to other consumers and is having sufficient spare capacity after commitments of loads and redundancy of 30%. 2) There is spare capacity in the feeding system for release of the load. 3) The consumer apply up to same connected load and contract demand which was previously disconnected. In case all the conditions are fulfilled, the connection shall be released without issuance of PAC. However, the A&A form, test report etc. shall be submitted by the consumer and signed by the competent authority and completion of codal formalities as of a new connection is to be done. The load shall be got sanctioned from the Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 75

76 competent authority before restoration of supply. However, the electrical installations and apparatus of voltage exceeding 650 Volts will be required to be inspected by Electrical Inspector as per Regulation 43 of CEA(Measures relating to safety and Electric Supply)Regualtions,2010 and its amendments In case above conditions are not fulfilled, all the codal formalities for issuance of PAC, Sanction of load shall be done for restoration of supply as is done for a new connection Charges to be levied at the time of restoration of supply after permanent disconnection. Following charges shall be recovered :- 1) Security deposit as per HPERC(Security Deposit) Regualtions,2005 and its amendments. 2) Cost of service line, in case service line as per regulation 4 and 10 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) Regulations, 419/2012 as amended from time to time, in case it has been removed or there is no spare capacity in the existing service line after commitment of load and redundancy of 30%. 3) Recovery of expenditure for supply of electricity as per Regulation 5 & 10 of HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity)Regulations, 419/2012 as amended from time to time. 4) Recovery of all outstanding amount of previous connections wherever applicable Necessary remarks may be added on the connection order stating that the service line exists which is being reconnected. The old Account No. and the previous consumer s name should also be mentioned. The recovery of expenditure for restoration of supply shall be as per HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity)Regulations, 419/2012 as amended from time to time In such a case where the supply is restored to the premises after a period of six months a fresh test report shall also be obtained from the consumer, before connecting the premises to HPSEBL s supply system. INSTRUCTION No. 37 Disconnection when Consumer s Premises are found Locked, order of statutory authority & on account of damage to equipments 37.1 If the consumer s premises are found locked by the Meter Reader or the Bill Distributor and no response is received even after serving Access to consumer s premises notice, some official say J.E. or Meter Inspector may be deputed to visit the premises of the consumer to verify the facts on spot. On their report, if there are no early prospects of the meter being read or HPSEBL s dues being paid, the concerned Officer In-Charge of Sub-Division/Sub-Office shall issue disconnection order of the premises from the tee or pole and accordingly supply may be disconnected. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 76

77 37.2 In case instructions for disconnection of supply is received from any statutory authority in exercise of the power vested under law passed by a competent legislator and such instructions are received either directly in the Sub-Division or received through other senior offices, the In-charge of Sub-Division/Sub-Office shall comply with such instructions immediately by issuance of Temporary Disconnection Order. The supply shall be disconnected immediately with prior intimation to the consumer. The prior intimation is the notice issued by the respective statutory authority Discontinuance on account of immediate danger/damage to the equipment In case the breach of condition of supply (or of any restrictions imposed there under) is of a nature which is likely to cause an immediate danger/damage to the equipment installed by HPSEBL or otherwise, the concerned officer in-charge or any technical official of the sub-division shall have the right to disconnect the premises of the consumer immediately without any prior notice. The connection to the premises so disconnected shall not be reconnected until the defects pointed out by the HPSEBL are set right. However, in all such cases, after the supply has been disconnected, the consumer should be informed as early as possible about the reasons leading to disconnection and the remedial measure required to be taken by him before supply is restored. INSTRUCTION No. 38 Recovery of Arrears from Defaulting Consumers - Procedure for monitoring & recovery of the defaulting amount 38.1 Steps required to be taken by the field units so that the incidence of dispute and default in making payments is minimized. 1) The bills should be issued strictly as per billing cycle so that the consumer can easily pay the bill as a normal routine. 2) The bills should be issued after proper scrutiny for the category of tariff, supply voltage, multiplying factor and other parameters so as to avoid wrong application of tariff resulting in arrears which the mistake has been noticed. 3) When there is change of supply voltage for a consumer or change of meter, the multiplying factor should be properly recorded in the MCO/SJO and updated in the billing software/relevant record so that bills are not issued on previous Multiplying factor. 4) The Sr.E.E./SE/CE on whose jurisdiction the consumer falls should exercise random check while conducting tours to the area. The part payment of energy bill shall be regulated as detailed above in Instruction No. 35. However, in case the payment is made through RTGS and other mode before and after the due date the same may be adjusted as under. In case of under payment of bills by consumer, amount shall be adjusted as per priority stated as below: a) Arrears as on thirty first of March of the previous financial year, Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 77

78 b) Arrears accrued from first of April of the current financial year till the date of the bill, c) Electricity charges for the current billing cycle and d) Any other charges or levies. It should be noted that according to the provisions of Act, no sum due from consumer shall be recoverable from any consumer, after the period of two years from the date when such sum first became due unless such sum has been shown continuously as recoverable as arrears of charges for electricity supplied. It should therefore be ensured that a complete and thorough watch should be observed for monitoring and recovery of defaulting arrears and such arrears should be reflected in the bills. For the sake of clarity, the sum first become due is on the date the amount of underpayment in billing, wrong application of tariff, wrong multiplication factor, amount other than energy bill has been noticed and demand notice has been raised on this account to the consumer( Ref. Appellate Tribunal for Electricity Judgement in Appeal No. 202 & 203 of 2006 in the matter of Ajmet Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Ltd. versus M/s Sisodia Marble & Granites Pvt. Ltd.) The Assistant Engineer/Sr. Assistant (Commercial) of the respective Electrical Sub Division shall ensure proper implementation of tariff for the bills to be prepared in the Sub-Division. The entire responsibility for computerized billing rests with Assistant Engineer of the concern Sub-Division. For the bills prepared by Data Centre under SE (IT), the SE(IT)/Sr. EE(IT) should ensure that the tariff is implemented properly. However, at the time of delivery of the bills, the concerned SE(Op) and AE, ESD should also exercise proper check of the bills generated, category applicable, LVSS, LVMS, arrears pointed out by sub-division etc. before it is finally delivered as these details are available with the concerned filed units The Assistant Engineer/Sr. Assistant (Commercial) of the respective Electrical S/Division shall ensure that outstanding amount, if any, including sundry charges has been mentioned in the bill clearly (in case of arrears for the past period, whenever pointed out by the audit or otherwise detected later on, separate bill should be issued to the consumer clearly indicating the amount on account, period etc. in the first instance and subsequently, if this bill is not paid within due date, the total outstanding amount on whatsoever account it is, should be reflected continuously in the subsequent energy bills, till date the payment is received or permanent disconnection is affected). The details of defaulted amount recovered / to be recovered from the consumers during the next month should be intimated to the Divisional Office along with detail of defaulting consumers and record a certificate at the end of month that outstanding amount/sundry charges have been mentioned in the bill of all consumers where ever required and no entry has been left At Divisional level the Divisional Accountant will compile and verify the detail of all such certificates of all sub-divisions. A combined certificate will be prepared by the Divisional Accountant, countersigned by the Sr. Executive Engineer that defaulted amount of all sub-division under his division has been pointed/billed in the bill of the concerned consumer and submit the same to circle Office. Sr. Executive Engineer should simultaneously also take steps to recover the defaulting amount. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 78

79 On receipt of the requisite certificate from the divisional offices, the Sr. Executive Engineer/ S.E shall after ensuring that outstanding amount, if any, including sundry charges have been mentioned in the bill clearly. The Sr. Executive Engineer/ SE, shall record a certificate at the end of month that outstanding amount/sundry charges in respect of his circle have been mentioned in the bills of all consumers, where ever required, and no entry has been left. The details of defaulting amount recovered/ to be recovered shall then be submitted by him to the concerned Chief Engineer (Op.)/ Chief Accounts Officer A separate ledger showing month wise defaulting/outstanding amount of consumers shall be prepared and maintained by Dealing Assistant in the circle office and get it verified from the A. A.O. The detail so verified shall be put up to the Sr. Executive Engineer for recording the certificate. The Sr. Executive Engineer shall further put up it to the Superintending Engineer The month wise return of such defaulting amount shall be sent to Chief Accounts Officer of HPSEB Ltd. /Chief Engineer (Op.) by the respective Superintending Engineer (OP). The Chief Accounts Officer after scrutiny shall put up the same to Director (Finance) on quarterly basis for his perusal Chief Auditor shall ensure and develop mechanism that the commercial audit of all the Sub-Division are conducted within a period of one year so that any recovery detected during audit is pointed out in the bill of consumer within one year to adhere to two year limitation period as per section 56(2) of the Electricity Act 2003 as well as clause of the HPERC Electricity supply Code Note: -Reports of all such consumers who have outstanding amount pending for recovery can be generated on computerized billing and accordingly action at sub division level shall be taken well in time to recover the outstanding amount Recovery of defaulting amount: Whenever the consumer does not make the payments of dues or violates the supply code, the connection should be disconnected temporarily from the service mains after serving 15 days notice and the connection should remain disconnected, till such time the payment of dues is not made by the consumer or violation of supply code is set right. It is, however, mandatory that TDCOs/ PDCOs are issued immediately after the monthly accounts in the sub-division are finalized Discontinuance of supply of electric energy to a consumer who defaults in liquidating the electric energy bill is not an end in itself but is only a step towards not only arresting further accumulation of arrears but even forcing him to make the payment. However, all out efforts should be made to recover the amount, and such efforts should not be relaxed as long as the recovery is not actually affected The SDO (A.E/A.E.E.)/J.E. should go on pressing say by issuing reminders to be delivered through peon or if necessary, to be sent by Registered post and through bonafide representatives of the HPSEB Ltd., to the defaulting consumer for payment of the outstanding dues of the HPSEBL. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 79

80 In case of continued default in payment of any amount, due to the licensee by any consumer for a period of more than six months, the licensee may terminate the agreement executed with the consumer in accordance with the Conditions of Supply of the licensee and remove the electric line or works connected with the supply of electricity to the consumer In the meantime after the expiry of one month, the matter should be intimated to the Sr. Executive Engineer concerned with a detailed report indicating the action taken or proposed to be taken. If there are no prospects of the recovery of the dues through some other connection held by the defaulting consumer, the matter should be taken up at Sr. XEN s level who should, at his earliest convenience write to the defaulting consumer requesting early settlement of the account. If it is found that the consumer has left the station or does not have a connection at the local station, but is getting supply from HPSEBL at some other station, the concerned Sr. Executive Engineer of that division should be asked to debit the charges to him against the connection held by him under his charge. The Sr. XEN should whenever he makes a reference to the consumer, endorse a copy to the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) for his information so that the SDO (A.E./A.E.E.) should not issue any further written reminder to the defaulter, but who at the same time, should not slacken his efforts, in affecting the recovery through bonafide representatives of the HPSEBL. The amount should, however be carried forward in the Consumer s ledger from month to month and surcharge should continue to be levied as required, till date the recovery or permanent disconnection is affected. The field officer may intimate the revenue authorities like District Collector regarding the amount to be paid by the consumer to HPSEBL so that if any transaction regarding sale or purchase of the property takes place, the revenue authorities may not give no dues of the property/premises. In case the consumer does not clear the outstanding amount with in a period of one month, the concerned field units may immediately resort to file civil suit against the defaulting consumer for recovery of outstanding amount before the court of competent jurisdiction and simultaneously seek attachment of the property belonging to the defaulting consumer from the court under the provision of Order XXXVIII, Rule 5 of the Civil Procedure Code. In the meantime, the action for adjustment of security/ encashment of BG in case security is in the shape of BG may be initiated so as to the recover the amount to that extent The security amount equivalent to consumption charges for the billing cycle period shall be maintained with HPSEBL. The concerned Sub-Division should exercise proper check at the end of each financial year The XEN should follow his letter by issuing the reminders at fortnightly intervals. In case the payment of the bill is not received within a fortnight from the date of issue of the last reminder, the case, if the amount involved is more than the competence to write off as per clause 39.4 below together with the consumer file should be referred to the next higher authority for taking further necessary action giving a complete precise of the case with particular references to the following points:- Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 80

81 Full address and where-about of the consumer Whether all other connections standing in the name of the consumer have been disconnected or not Period to which the outstanding amount relates The break-up of the outstanding amount i.e. (a) amount of actual energy charges (b) meter rentals (e) any other amount Date of first default Date and the amount of last payment. If the payment is partpayment, the total amount of the bill against which the part payment is made The efforts already made at the sub-division and divisional level Prospects of recovery of outstanding in the near future The cause which led to the consumer becoming defaulter Financial position of the defaulting consumer with particular reference to his immovable property, so as to ascertain the scope of recovery through legal action Action to be taken at SE/CE (Op.) Level: The cases, for recovery of defaulting amount after being received in the Superintending Engineer's/ Chief Engineer s office should be scrutinized so as to arrive at any further line of action. In collaboration with the Legal Section of the HPSEBL, the desirability of launching legal proceedings should be assessed and initiated under the provision of order 38 rule 5 of CPC, so that the necessary action could be taken well before the expiry of the period of limitation, which is only two years as per section 56(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003, from the date when such sum became first due, unless such sum has been shown continuously as recoverable as arrears of charges for electricity supply, from the date when such sum became first due. The action for recovery through civil suit should be initiated under the provisions of civil procedure code order 38 rule 5, so that HPSEBL is at least in a position to recover the amount in execution of decree by distress and sale of immoveable property so attached If ultimately the amount is found to be irrecoverable either due to the failure of the legal proceedings, or the exhaustion of all efforts and where no legal remedy is sought, the case for writing off the arrears, so that the books could be cleared, should be framed and submitted to the competent authority. The authority competent to write off the arrears of Electricity dues is as under:- Sr. No. Competent Authority Amount 1 Sr. Executive Engineer Rs. 1000/- in each case subject to maximum Rs.10, 000/- during the year 2 Superintending Engineer Rs. 5000/- in each case subject to maximum Rs.25, 000/- during the year 3 Chief Engineer Rs. 10,000/- in each case subject to maximum Rs.50, 000/- during the year 4 Head Office level Committee Comprising of: (i) Chief Engineer (Op.) concerned (ii) Superintending Engineer (Commercial) Chairman Member Rs. 25,000/ -in each case subject to Rs.2,00,000/- during the year Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 81

82 (iii) Dy. Chief Auditor/ Dy. Chief Accounts Officer (iv) Superintending Engineer (Works) office of CE (Op.) Member Member Secretary Cases involving amount more than above limits should be referred to the Whole Time Directors by concerned Chief Engineer (Operation) concerned for decision However, in case of following consumers the action indicated above should only be taken if the procedure outlined below fails to yield fruitful results Government Departments: So far as the question of recovery of outstanding dues from Government Departments is concerned the matter may be referred to the Head of the Department for early liquidation of arrears, simultaneously endorsing copies to the offices concerned for doing the needful immediately. Progress should be watched and reviewed fortnightly Government Employees: In such cases Heads of the Offices/Departments under whom the consumer is working should be addressed to recover the outstanding amount from the person concerned and remit to the HPSEBL. In case where the employees have been transferred to other stations, their address should be found out and the Heads of their offices be asked likewise HPSEBL Employees: The arrears should be recovered promptly from the employees of the HPSEBL. In case the employees have been transferred to other stations, reference should be made to his SDO (A.E./ A.E.E.) /XEN/ S.E concerned to affect recovery from the pay bills of the official officer and remit it to the office concerned Industrial Units: In case of Industrial units which are non-functional or closed and the electricity charges are outstanding in their name and any other person purchases the unit for its revival, the recovery shall be affected from the new consumer before the release of connection in line with HPERC(Recovery of Expenditure for Supply of Electricity)Regualtions,2012 as amended from time to time and supply code. The procedure laid down above, shall be adopted meticulously in letter and spirit by field units at every level for chalking out the defaulters and recovery of defaulting amounts from the defaulting consumers, besides all defaulting consumers, specially, in case of consumers having connected load above 100kW. INSTRUCTION No. 39 Payment of Arrears not originally billed: 39.1 There may be certain cases where the consumer is billed for some of the dues relating to previous months/years or otherwise as arrears on account of under Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 82

83 assessment/unauthorized use of electricity or demand or some amount pointed out by Internal Auditor or CAG / detected by the authorized officers either owing to negligence of the HPSEBL employees or due to some defect in the metering equipment or due to application of wrong tariff/multiplication factor or due to mistake in connection or other irregularities/malpractices etc. In all such cases, separate bills shall be issued giving complete details of the charges levied alongwith calculation. Such charges shall be shown as arrears in the subsequent electricity bills regularly till the payment is made. Supplementary bills shall be issued separately giving complete details of the charges in regard to theft cases, slowness of meters, wrong connections of the meter and unauthorized of use electricity etc. In such cases the copy of relevant instructions under which the charges have been levied shall also be supplied to the consumer for facilitating the quick disposal of cases by consumer forums if approached by the consumer Limitation: Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no sum due from any consumer, shall be recoverable after the period of two years from the date when such sum became first due unless such sum has been shown continuously as recoverable as arrear of charges for electricity supplied and the licensee shall not cut off the supply of the electricity: 39.3 Allowing payment of arrears in installments: The consumer may sometimes find it difficult to make payment of such arrears which are not originally billed in lump sum and may make representation for allowing the payment of such arrears to be made in installments. Such a representation must come from the consumer within the grace period i.e. within 10/15 days of the receipt of the bill. A notice to this effect shall be incorporated on the bill itself while raising the demand for arrear amount. The detailed calculations of the area amount needs to be included in the notice. The consumer seeking installments shall deposit not less than 25% of the billed amount so as to show his earnestness to pay the assessed amount in installments along-with late payment surcharge Competency of allowing installments in respect of arrears: Authority allow installments to Arrear Amount up to (Rs.) Initial Deposit before installment No of Installments (Maximum Limit) AE/AEE: % 3 Sr.EE/ASE % 4 SE/Dy. CE % 6 CE % 8 HPSEBL Committee( Director(Op), Director(Tech.) MD Level & More than Rs. 5 lac 25% 12 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 83

84 Note:- Where the consumer seeks higher number of installments, then those in column no (4), the matter shall fall in the purview of next higher authority which is competent to allow the required number of installments even if the arrear amount in within the limit provided in column No. (2) No installments for Current Bills: No installments will be allowed for payment of current energy bill. The part payment shall be allowed as discussed in the Instruction No. 35 above Some of the sick units are seeking restoration of power reconnection and requesting HPSEBL to allow them to make payments of their outstanding arrears in installments. HPSEBL may restore the connection on payment of initial amount of 25% of the outstanding amount and rest may be allowed in installments with payment of late fee surcharge with current energy bill. INSTRUCTION No. 40 Dispute Settlement Committees of HPSEBL 40.1 The Following dispute settlement Committees have been constituted by HPSEBL to settle the disputes arising out of consumer complaints regarding wrong billing etc.: Divisional Level Dispute Settlement Committee:- 1 ASE/Sr. Executive Engineer (Op) other than the Chairman Concerned Division to be nominated by the Dy. C.E. /S.E (Op) of the concerned circle. 2 Superintendent (Accounts) of the concerned Member Division. 3 A.E.E/A.E of the concerned Sub-Division Convener and Presenting officer This committee shall be empowered to decide the cases of the disputed amount up to Rs. 10,000/-( principal amount) Sub-Divisional Level Dispute Settlement Committee:- 1 A.E.E /A.E. (Op) other than the concerned Chairman Sub-Division to be nominated by the ASE/Sr. E.E of the concerned Division. 2 Sr. Assistant (Comm.) of the concerned Member Sub-division. 3 A.A.E/J.E. of the concerned Section. Convener and Presenting officer. This committee shall be empowered to decide the cases of the dispute at Section level and disputed amount up to Rs. 5,000/-(principal amount) The consumer has however option to approach the above committees or approach directly to Consumer Grievance Rederssal Forum (CGRF). Note: - The convener and presenting officer will not be the member of committee. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 84

85 The representation to the committees can be preferred within 15 months of issuance of bill/notice or decision under clause No of H.P. electricity Supply Code, 2009 and its amendments. The committees will decide the dispute with in a period of three months. The Head quarter of the Dispute Settlement Committees shall be at the place where chairman of the committee is stationed. The award announced by the committee shall be out of the purview of the audit. In case the committee does not settle the case with in the time frame or the consumer is not satisfied with the decision of Committees, he has the right to approach Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum(CGRF) within the prescribed time limits. SECTION V Unauthorized use/ Theft of Energy INSTRUCTION No. 41 Unauthorized use of electricity - section 126 of the Electricity Act As per the provisions of Section 126 of the E.A.2003, the unauthorized use of electricity means usage of electricity:- i. by any artificial means, or ii. by a mean not authorized by the concerned person or authority or HPSEBL, or iii. through a tampered meter, or iv. for the purpose other than for which the usage of electricity was authorized or v. for the premises or areas other than those for which the supply of electricity was authorized. However, increase in the connected load, without permission from HPSEBL, shall not be considered as unauthorized use of electricity under section 126 of the Act, if:- a) there is no change in applicable tariff category, or sub-category thereof, as a result of increase in connected load; and b) the actual demand (kva) does not exceed the maximum limit arrived at by converting the sanctioned connected load (kw) into kva, based on an assumed power factor of 0.9, by more than 10 kva. Illustration.- if the sanctioned connected load of the consumer is 360kW and actual demand is 410 kva or less it shall not be considered as unauthorized use of electricity under the section 126 of the Act even if the sanctioned contact demand is less than 410 kva, so long as the conditions under other clauses are adhered to; and c) there is no usage of electricity through a tampered meter; and d) the electricity is used only for the purpose for which the same was authorized; and e) the electricity is used only for the premises or the areas for which the supply of electricity is authorized; and d) the increase in connected load does not exceed the limit computed as under- (i) 10 kw in case where the sanctioned connected load is upto 100 kw; and (ii) 10% of the sanctioned connected load subject to a maximum of 200 kw, in case where the sanctioned connected load is more than 100 kw: Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 85

86 Provided that where the extension of connected load comes to the notice of the licensee, irrespective of the fact, whether or not, such extension is considered to be unauthorized use of supply under section 126 of the Act, it shall, apart from taking any other steps as may be necessary, give an option to the consumer to either get such extension(s) regularized by completing the formalities or to remove the extension(s) of the connected load. The licensee shall be entitled to disconnect the supply if the consumer does not take any steps in this direction even after service of a notice on him by the licensee. However, the licensee may disconnect the supply temporarily even without a notice if it reasonably believes that continuation of supply is likely to result in loss of human or animal life or injury to a human being or any animal or damage to property At the time of disconnection meter reading shall be recorded and it shall be compared at the time of reconnection so as to ensure that no energy was consumed during the period of disconnection. Simultaneously list of such disconnected consumers shall be handed over at the complaint centers/or send via to enter in separate register as that complaint staff is aware of such disconnection under intimation to Sr.E.E./SE Surprise checking of consumer installations by an authorized officer, should cover the following aspects: The assessing officer and other members of his team will at the time of inspection carry alongwith them their photo identity cards, which will, on demand, be shown to the person present at site before entering the premises If on inspection of the premises/area and/or scrutiny of the records, the assessing officer comes to the conclusion that the consumer is indulging in unauthorized use of electricity, he will prepare an inspection report inter-alia indicating connected load for unauthorized use of electricity, condition of meter and its seals and also details of evidence substantiating the unauthorized use. The assessing officer will wherever possible photograph/videograph the means of such unauthorized use The assessing officer will sign the inspection report and a copy handed over to the person or his/her representative present at site. The person present at site may also sign the inspection report. In case of refusal to accept the report, a copy of the inspection report will be posted at a conspicuous place in/outside the premises and another copy of the same shall be sent under registered post The assessment should be calculated for the entire period with in which unauthorized usage of electricity remained or in case the period is not ascertainable, it should be limited to a period of twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date of detection of the unauthorized usage The consumption of electricity for assessment shall be computed on the basis of meter reading and in cases where consumption of electricity cannot be computed on the basis of meter reading, then the same will be computed on the basis of LDHF formula ( as per H.P Electricity Supply Code,2009 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 86

87 The assessing officer shall provisionally assess the charges payable by such consumer at a rate equal to Twice the tariff applicable for the relevant category in which the service should have been classified, without allowing the benefit of Subsidy and after deducting the charges already paid as per the provision of Annexure-A of H.P Electricity Supply Code. The charges will continue to be levied till the rectification (regularization or disconnection) of the unauthorized usage The assessing officer and shall issue Provisional Assessment Order to the consumer within 48 hours of the inspection In case of defective/ dead stop meters, the accounts of a consumer will be overhauled for the period a burnt/defective meter remained at site, on the basis of energy consumption of the corresponding period of the previous year after calibrating for the changes in load, if any. In case the average consumption for the corresponding period of the previous year is not available then the consumer will be tentatively billed for the consumption to be assessed as per Annexure-A of H.P Electricity Supply Code 2009 and subsequently adjusted on the basis of actual consumption in the corresponding period of the succeeding year The person served with provisional assessment order as described above may accept such assessment and deposit the assessed amount within the seven days of serving of the order on him. The consumer, if not satisfied with provisional assessment, shall be entitled to file any objection before the assessing officer. The consumer shall file such objections within seven days of serving of order on him Within seven days of submission of the objection(s), the assessing officer will scrutinize the case and if no unauthorized use of electricity is established then after taking the reasons on record, the case will be dropped immediately and the person informed accordingly If the assessing officer is still of the view that unauthorized use of electricity has taken place, he shall after providing an opportunity of personal hearing to the person, pass a final order of assessment specifying the amount payable within thirty days of the date of service of order of provisional assessment. In such a case the assessing officer will assess the electricity consumption and electricity charges as per the procedure given in Annexure-A of H.P Electricity Supply Code The final assessment order shall be reasoned and speaking one justifying as to whether a case of unauthorized use is prima-facie established or not. The said order shall contain the brief of inspection report, submission made by the occupant or person in his written reply and oral submission during personal hearing and reasons for acceptance or rejection of the same The consumer will be required to deposit the assessed amount with within seven days of receipt of the final order of assessment. The last date of payment of the assessed amount can be extended or the consumer can be allowed the payment in installments, if approved by HPSEBL, subject to payment of interest on the unpaid amount for the extended period beyond Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 87

88 seven days at the rate of 16 percent per annum compounded every six months The consumer served with the final order of assessment may accept it and deposit the assessed amount or the consumer may prefer an appeal before the concerned Divisional Commissioner (Appellate Authority) against the final assessment order with in thirty (30) days after depositing the 50% of the assessed amount (inclusive of the amount already deposited) as per section -127 of the Electricity Act, The Assessing Officer should file caveat before the Appellate Authority in order to prevent any stay order and accumulation of revenue arrear in that account. Also proper defense is required to be put forth before the Appellate Authority In case the Appellate Authority does not uphold the contention of unauthorized usage, no further proceedings would be initiated by HPSEBL and the amount so deposited by the consumer needs to be refunded along with per annum with half yearly compounding from the date of deposit till the amount recovered is adjusted by way of adjustment in bills of the consumer of succeeding months. The consumer may also opt for cash refund of the amount deposited by him alongwith interest at the rate of 16 percent per annum compounded every six months, till payment of such amount is made by HPSEBL In case the amount payable as determined by the appellate authority is less than the amount already deposited by the consumer, the excess amount will be refunded by adjustment in the bills of the immediately succeeding months along with 16 % per annum with half year compounding from the date of such excess deposit till the date of actual adjustment If the Appellate Authority is satisfied about unauthorized usage, the remaining amount as per the Appellate order, should be got deposited from the consumer with in thirty days of the decision of the Appellate Authority In case of default in payment of the assessed amount or any instalments thereof by a person, HPSEBL may, after giving not less than 15 days clear notice, disconnect the supply of electricity. The defaulter, on the expiry of seven days or the period as allowed by the HPSEBL under above from the receipt of the final order of assessment or the period allowed for making payment as per the decision of the appellate authority, will also be liable to pay interest on the outstanding amount at the rate of sixteen percent per annum compounded every six months till the assessed amount or any instalments thereof is finally paid At the same time, the account of such consumers who are being billed on two part tariff should be overhauled with retrospective effect on the basis of extended load, irrespective of the fact whether the extension have been regularized or disconnected. So far as determination of the date of extension is concerned the consumer should be asked to intimate the date of installing the additional machinery and substantiate it by producing documentary proof, if any. If the date Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 88

89 intimated by the consumer is fairly comparable to the date of purchase of machinery represented by the bill/cash memo or the octroi receipt, the same may be taken as authentic. But if there is a marked disparity or no documentary evidence is produced by the consumer, reference should be made to the monthly consumption of the consumer, as any abrupt rise in consumption in a month can be construed to be the result of the extension in load and the date/month may be adopted for overhauling the accounts It is, however, not possible to lay down any precise formula for finding out the date of extension. It is felt that the field Officers by virtue of their being on the spot should be in a position to make a fair judgment. However, where it is not possible to come to any logical conclusion, the better course would be to adopt either the date intimated by the consumer or a date twelve months prior to the date of detection whichever is earlier In cases, where it is considered to regularize the unauthorized extension of loads, the same may be allowed after obtaining the following documents/charges: Revised Application & Agreement form Revised Test Report and other relevant documents The additional amount of Security Deposit, as applicable, on the basis of HPERC (Security deposit) Regulations Estimated charges as per HPERC (Recovery of Expenditure for supply of Electricity) regulations 2012, if required For the implementation of the provisions of section 126 Investigation & Enforcement the Government of Himachal Pradesh has designated the following officers as assessing officers under sub-section (6) (a) of the Electricity Act 2003: - S. No. Category of consumers LT Consumers HT Consumers Assessing Officer Assistant Engineer/ Assistant Executive Engineer/ Executive Engineer with in their respective jurisdiction/ Sr. Executive Engineer/Additional Superintending Engineer of Head Office Flying Squad unit in respect of the inspection carried out by him. Sr. Executive Engineer/ Additional Superintending Engineer with in their respective jurisdiction/ Sr. Executive Engineer/Additional Superintending Engineer of Head Office Flying Squad unit in respect of the inspection carried out by him. INSTRUCTION NO. 42 Theft of Electricity - Section 135 of the Electricity Act Provision: A consumer or any person shall be guilty of theft of electric Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 89

90 energy and shall be deemed to have committed theft within the meaning of Sec. 135 of Act,2003 and shall be dealt with according to procedures as per clause No. 6.2 of H.P. Electricity Supply Code, whoever, dishonestly; Taps, makes or causes to be made any connection with overhead, Underground or under water lines or cables, or service wires, or service facilities of a licensee or supplier, as the case may be or; Tampers a meter installs or uses a tampered meter, which covers broken/ loosening meter glass, insertion of a hole in the meter body and tampering of service wire insulation, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device or method which interferes with accurate or proper registration, calibration or metering of electric current or otherwise results in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted; or Damages or destroys an electric meter, apparatus, equipment, or wire or causes or allows any of them to be so damaged or destroyed as to interfere with the proper or accurate metering of electricity; or Uses electricity through a tampered meter; or Uses electricity for the purpose other than for which the usage of electricity was authorized. so as to abstract or consume or use electricity shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both Please note: The word dishonest intension is most important before booking a case under section -135 in above circumstances Procedure to be followed upon detection of theft of electricity by an Assessing Officer: The authorized officer and other members of his team will, at the time of inspection carry photo identity cards, which will on demand be shown to the occupant or person present at site before entering the premises The authorized officer will record evidence substantiating theft of electricity in the premises and will photograph/ video graph the means/ mode of theft of electricity. The means applied for stealing of electricity if any, should be kept intact duly sealed in the presence of the consumer. As a matter of proof & supporting evidence, the seized item/document be taken in possession. Thereafter, it may be put inside the cotton cloth bag and shall be duly stitched and sealed with sealing wax and should invariably be stamped. The bag so prepared be got signed from the consumer/occupant and officials of HPSEBL. The authorized officer shall take all possible appropriate measures to keep intact the seizures/evidence, so as to keep them as in found condition The authorized officer will prepare an inspection report inter-alia indicating connected load for theft of electricity, status of meter/metering Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 90

91 equipment, condition of meter and seals and any other irregularity noticed (such as means adopted for theft of electricity ) in such premises. The consumer/ occupant or person of the place of search or any representative on his behalf shall remain present during the search and a list of all items seized in the course of such search shall be prepared and delivered to such occupant or person. The authorized officer will sign the inspection report, will obtain signature(s) of the occupant or person present at the premises during the search on the seizure memo and inspection report and shall hand over a copy, immediately after the inspection, to the occupant or person present at the premises during the search, the said site note should be signed by the consumer/ occupier, witnesses if any, officers & officials of the HPSEBL conducting/ accompanying the inspection team. The seized material shall be handed over to police station by the authorized/inspecting authority for further submission in the court by taking proper receipt of the same In case of refusal to sign the site inspection report or receive the inspection report, a copy of the same will be pasted at a conspicuous place in / out side the premises and another copy sent to the occupant or person under registered post. The inspection report will indicate the time period, which shall not exceed seven days, within which the occupant or person may raise objections against the said report before the authorized officer Upon detection of theft and prima- facie establishment of the same, the supply to the premises be disconnected forthwith by an authorized officer for the purpose and a complaint in writing in the Police station having jurisdiction within 24 hours of disconnection shall also be lodged The authorized officer shall, within four days of the date of receipt of objections of occupant or person, arrange a personal hearing, if requested for by the occupant/person. In case, the occupant/person fails to appear on the appointed date and time, the authorized officer may proceed ex-parte and shall serve an assessment order upon the occupant or person in manner as specified under clause to The authorized officer shall give due consideration to the facts submitted by the occupant or person and pass, within three days of the personal hearing under preceding clause , a speaking order as to whether a case of theft is prima-facie established or not. Speaking order shall contain the brief of inspection report, submission made by occupant or person in his written reply and oral submission during personal hearing and reasons for acceptance or rejection of the same In case of a decision that a case of theft is not established no further proceedings shall be required and the connection shall be restored. Also, in case the consumer deposits the assessed electricity charges, the supply to the premises shall be restored Where the theft of electricity by an occupant or person is prima-facie established, the authorized officer will assess the amount payable by the occupant or person, who has been benefited by such theft as per procedure, specified at Annexure-A of H.P. Electricity Supply Code. The Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 91

92 assessment order will be delivered to the concerned occupant or person within 24 hours of the speaking order issued under clause above The assessment shall be calculated for the entire period of pilferage or in case the period is not ascertainable, it should be limited to a period of twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date of detection of theft. However, if the consumer submits some documentary evidence for curtailing period of pilferage and assessing officer is satisfied, the same be taken in to possession and be considered for reduction in period of theft/pilferage Upon the consumption of units so worked out the charges be levied at a rate equal to Twice the normal tariff applicable for the relevant category without allowing the benefit of Subsidy A person/occupant not satisfied with the assessment order may prefer, within 15 days of the receipt of the assessment order, a representation before the authorized officer. The authorized officer will after giving the occupant or person an opportunity of being heard pass a final assessment order within seven days of the representation having been received The authorized officer will furnish a copy of the final assessment order to the person/occupant and HPSEBL. HPSEBL will submit a copy of the final assessment order in the Special Court immediately after submission of the challan by the Police An occupant/person will deposit with HPSEBL the assessed amount in the final assessment order, within thirty days of the receipt of assessment order HPSEBL may extend the last date of payment of the assessed amount, in final assessment order, or allow the occupant/person to make payment in instalments subject to payment of interest for the unpaid amount for the extended period beyond thirty days at the rate of 16 percent per annum compounded every six months After the assessed amount, in final assessment order, is deposited in full by the occupant /person, HPSEBL will resume supply of electricity to the premises within forty-eight hours of such deposit. If the assessed amount, in final assessment order, is deposited by a person, who is not an existing consumer, the supply to his premises will be released treating it as a case of release of a new connection In case the civil liability finally determined by the Special Court is less than the amount deposited by the person or occupant as assessed by the authorized officer above, the excess amount so deposited will be refunded within fifteen days from the date of communication of the order of the Special Court to HPSEBL together with the interest at the rate of 16 percent per annum compounded every six months for the period from the date of such excess deposit till the date of payment. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 92

93 The legal proceedings initiated/ likely to be initiated after the intimation as given to the Police can be settled by way of compounding of offence. The compounding of offence can be made on the request of the consumer to the Superintending Engineer concerned after depositing the compounding charges including assessed amount on account of theft by the consumer as stipulated in section 152 of Electricity Act, After acceptance of the sum of money for compounding, an offence shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and intimation thereof has to be sent to the Police station or to the Court if the challan has been placed by the authorized officer/ Police in the Court as set up for the purpose. Compounding shall be allowed only once for any person or consumer On receipt of such amount, all criminal proceedings against the person or occupant under this Act shall be dropped. The payment of compounding fee will be in addition to any civil liability accruing under para of H.P. Electricity Supply Code. And the Compounding shall be governed by the provisions of para of the HP Electricity Supply Code If any person /consumer found stealing energy does not make the payment of the amount so assessed by the authorized officer including compounding charges, the Police will submit the challan before the Hon ble Special Court designated to deal with the cases of theft of energy as per Electricity Act, While submitting documents to the court or police, it must be ensured to submit the certified copies of the original documents It is the primary responsibility of the Assessing/ Inspecting authority to make all out efforts to ensure that the matter in the Court is continuously followed to convict the accused. It is possible only when he attends the Court himself well prepared with the case before deposition The subsequent action in such matters would be based upon the directions of the Hon ble court exercising jurisdiction over the issue For the implementation of the provisions of section 135 Theft of Electricity in the State of HP in respect of different categories of consumers, the Government of Himachal Pradesh has authorized the following officers under sub-section section 135 (2) to inspect any premises, in which he has reasons to believe that electricity has been or is being used unauthorizedly: - S. No. (A) (i) Category of connection Operation Wing: All the connections/ categories of consumers up to 10kW connected load Authorized Officer JE/AAE of the Department and any official/ officer of Operation Wing not below the rank of Foreman/ Special Foreman within their respective jurisdiction Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 93

94 (ii) (iii) (B) All the connections/ categories of consumers up to 100kW connected load All the connections/ Categories of consumers with connected load upto 100kW and above Any Officer of the Operation Wing not below the rank of AE/AEE/XEN within their jurisdiction Any Officer of the Operation Wing not below the rank of Sr. Executive Engineer/ Additional SE within their jurisdiction Enforcement Wing: All categories of consumers Any Officer of the Enforcement Wing not below the rank of AE/AEE/EE 42.4 The assessment in theft of energy cases shall be done by the authorized officers as per clause of HP Electricity Supply Code,2009 as amended from time to time Following Officers have been authorized to implement the provision of section 152 (Compounding of offence) of the Electricity Act 2003 as under: - S. No. Category of connection Authorized Officer (a) All LT & HT Bulk Supply, Agriculture and Commercial connections (b) All Industrial small power connections Any Officer of the Operation Wing not below the rank of Superintending Engineer (s) with in their jurisdiction Any Officer of the Operation Wing not below the rank of Superintending Engineer (s) with in their jurisdiction (c) All MS and LS industrial connections The Chief Engineer(s) with in their jurisdiction INSTRUCTION No. 43 Guidelines for prevention of theft of electricity and unauthorized use of electricity: 43.1 Theft of Electricity directly from mains & meter terminals: Measures to counter the pilferage of electricity direct from the supply mains/service line are as under:- i) No P.T. fuses shall be provided on the secondary side of the supply to kwh/mdi meters. In the cases of existing connections P.T. Fuses, shall be removed immediately. ii) No fuse shall be provided on the secondary side of the CTs. iii) No cutout / G.O. Switch / Circuit Breaker shall be provided before the meter /metering equipment and service line shall be directly connected to the metering equipment. iv) In case of LT connection, it a general practice to connect the supply from tee off joints, the joint are generally kept open without proper sealing. It should be ensured that Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 94

95 connections are supply directly from pole and in case it is to be provided from submains, the tee off point should be properly sealed In order to avoid reversal of connections it must be ensured that correct connections are made at the meter terminals and its cover is properly sealed. Whenever meter terminal seal is broken or is found to be broken it must be replaced at the earliest. Before resealing it shall be ensured that the connections are in order. i) The connections shall be checked by a responsible Engineering Officer to ensure their correctness and working of the meter may also be checked with meter testing instrument, the meter shall thereafter be sealed properly by the officer to whom the job has been assigned as per standing instructions on the subject. ii) Connection wiring diagram of different types of meters / metering equipment both 11 KV and LT as in use shall be circulated amongst the distribution officers for their guidance by M&T Avoiding access to CTs/PTs and connecting wiring: For preventing free access to weak links of metering equipment and to avoid tampering of CT/ PT connections for the purpose of theft of energy, remedial measures as under may be taken:- i) The MCB and CTs/PTs chambers of standard design with proper construction as approved by the HPSEBL must be got installed separately for meters and CTs/PTs. The meters in case of all industrial connections shall be installed in the Chambers of standard/approved design. No connection shall be released without the installation of such chambers. In no case non-standard chambers be accepted from the consumers. In case of existing connections the non-standard MCBs and CT/PT chambers shall be replaced with MCBs and CT/PT chambers of approved design in a phased manner. ii) In respect of Metering for consumers where CTs/PTs are involved, the test terminal block where provided, meter terminal cover and CTs/PTs chamber need to be sealed carefully and properly by the field officers who have been assigned the job of sealing such metering equipment. Such seals shall not be broken without (a) the knowledge of the sealing officer/official and proper record of broken seals shall be kept. Seals shall be affixed expeditiously as and when the same have to be broken for attending to faults etc. The metering equipment in case of other industrial connections shall also be sealed properly and expeditiously by the competent authority. iii) The entry and exit holes for the cable in CT/PT chamber shall be plugged by putting suitable size of cable glands. iv) There shall be no joint in the CT/PT extension leads and the length of the leads shall be limited to the minimum required. The joints between the extension leads of CTs and leads connecting the meter shall be crimped so as to have solid joints. PT leads without any joint shall be soldered/ crimped on each phase of the service cable so as to achieve solid connections. MCB and CT/PT chambers need to be placed adjacent to each other and the CT/PT leads shall pass through the GI Pipe welded on the CT Chamber and connected to the MCB in such a way that the leads are not accessible to the consumers. Drawing depicting the correct arrangement shall be circulated to the concerned officers. v) The length of extension leads of the CTs/PTs shall be sufficient for taking to the meter terminal block to eliminate joints and the wires shall preferably be of red, yellow, blue and black colours for clear distinction and to facilitate quick checking. The suppliers may be asked for making provisions of sufficient lengths of extension leads in the CTs/PTs. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 95

96 vi) Combined CT/PT units must be installed for all HT metering equipment and their covers shall be sealed properly so as to avoid access to the connections. Separate CTs outside the combined unit must not be installed under any circumstances Avoiding loose joints in CT/PT chambers and expeditious sealing: As per practice in the field, consumer's main cable is connected to the HPSEBL main service cable inside the CT chamber in case of LT metering. CT/PT chamber being of close construction and joint being a weak link in the cable tends to heat up and the heat is not dissipated to the atmosphere, it ultimately results in overheating the joint and causes damage to it. CT/PT chamber seals are broken frequently in order to attend to the complaints of failure of supply due to overheating and damage to the joints. Such seals are not affixed promptly and sometimes they are not affixed for weeks/months together. Thus over-heating and damage to the joints and consequently breaking of CT/PT chamber seals allows the unscrupulous consumers a free access to the CT/PT connections for indulging in theft of electricity by tampering with the CT/PT connections. Therefore, jointing should be perfect In order to avoid disengagement of potential leads which are connected at the joints following measures may be taken: - i) Remedial measures: The joint between HPSEBL service cable and consumer's main cable shall be taken out of the CT/PT chamber on load side. For the existing connections these maybe done in a phased manner, and for new connections, the joints must be made outside CT/PT chamber at the time of releasing the connections. Drawing showing correct arrangement shall be circulated to the concerned officers from time to time. ii) The PT connections shall be made by cutting insulating material of each phase of PSPCL Service Cable inside the CT/PT chamber and these maybe soldered so as to ensure solid connections Measures to avoid fake seals etc:- To avoid Theft of electricity by tampering / providing fake M&T seals, tampering meter window glass fixing mechanism and providing small hole in the body of the meter, measures as under are required to be taken:- i) The instructions regarding affixing paper seals maybe rigidly followed by all the officials/officers concerned. ii) Impression of M&T seals may be stamped on the corners of the meter index plate with indelible ink so that it can not be rubbed off. iii) M&T seals shall be of multifarious impressions and shall be properly pressed by using the latest technique like hydraulic pressing etc. The sealer with hydraulic pressing dies shall be kept in steel chamber in M&T Lab having double locking arrangements. In no case, the officers/officials shall be allowed to have access to sealing-pliers/hydraulic pressing dies after the office hours or during holidays. iv) M&T seals of the meters transferred from the jurisdiction of one M&T Lab to other shall be replaced by the M &T Lab in whose area meters are to be installed. No sealer for M&T seals shall move with the employee even on transfer and shall be kept in a locker with double key system to be maintained in the office of M&T Sub-Divn. v) Energy meters with tampered/fake M&T seals or small holes made in the meter body for the purpose of stealing electricity are replaced indiscriminately by declaring such meters defective with ulterior motives after a short interval of time so as to avoid detection of such malpractices. These meters are returned to M&T Lab. after a long period for repairs and recalibration. Remedial measures against such a course of action are:- Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 96

97 a) Detailed investigations must be carried out in each and every case before the meter is replaced with one or the other plea so as to curb the tendency of indiscriminate replacement of tampered meters. Action shall be initiated against the officer/official who removed the meter and did not return the same to the M&T lab immediately. b) The meters, which are declared defective and are removed must be returned to M&T/S/Divn. within a maximum period of one week. c) Test results of defective meters, before their repair and recalibration, shall be obtained and recorded. The cause of defect shall also be established and recorded. Genuineness of M&T seals shall also be checked and recorded. vi) The locked and nil consumption cases be got investigated by the AE/AEE concerned Energy Consumption Variation register: Careful examination/study of cases of low and appreciable variation in energy consumption shall provide clues for investigating theft of electricity cases. In order to have an effective control/check over the mal-functioning of the meters/theft of energy by properly maintaining/monitoring energy variations registers for different category of consumers, following guidelines shall be implemented strictly. For keeping check on energy variation of various categories, consumption of a particular month shall be compared with consumption of the same month of the preceding year/average consumption of the preceding year/season and if there is variation of ±20%, the same shall be recorded on the energy variation register already in vogue and necessary investigation carried out so as to ascertain reasons for the said variation The naked LT terminals of the distribution transformers including that of the cable may be taped properly and thereafter these joints may be provided with paper seals with the signatures of the AE/AEE. These paper seals may be protected against any type of damage by providing transparent plastic paper suitably Meters and CTs of matching ratio: All out efforts may be made to install the meters and CTs of the same current ratio so as to eliminate the multiplying factor Multiplying factor to be indicated in red ink: Where meters and CTs of different current ratio were/are installed due to reasons of non-availability of matching CTs, the multiplying factor must be indicated in red ink on the consumer case, meter reading book and ledger so that it could be applied correctly. It shall also be written in indelible ink on the meter. AE./AEE/XEN shall have a consolidated record for all industrial and three phase connections in a bound register for all such connections which have multiplying factors. Such register shall be updated whenever there is any change in the meter or CTs. INSTRUCTION No. 44 Maintenance of Register for checking and detecting theft of Energy Cases: A Register on the prescribed form Narrative Report on Theft of Energy Cases should be maintained in all Sub-Offices, Sub-Division and Divisional Offices for checking and detecting theft of energy cases, wherein the details of theft of energy cases checked and investigated should be recorded, Printed Registers are available for this purpose. Operation of Enforcement Wing: INSTRUCTION No. 45 Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 97

98 The concerned field officers are required to follow the following points strictly in connection with the surprise inspection of electric connections by the Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad): 45.1 Whenever the Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad) pays surprise check/visit to area, it will be the responsibility of Executive Engineer/SDO (A.E/A.E.E.) (Electrical) of the area to accompany/ assist him in such a visit/ checking, whenever required by the Sr. Executive Engineer, Flying Squad Unit The required staff as may be requisitioned by the Sr. Executive Engineer, Flying Squad Unit shall be placed at his disposal immediately on his demand On receipt of the Inspection report of the Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad Unit) Executive Engineer/Assistant Executive Engineer/Assistant Engineer concerned shall be responsible to recover the amount and take such action as may be called for in the report In case of employees of the HPSEBL, if found guilty of any offence, connected with the theft of energy or the prima facie case exist against an employee immediately, on receipt of inspection report from the Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad)/ Superintending Engineer/Dy. Chief Engineer (Enforcement & EA), the concerned Sr Executive Engineer/Superintending Engineer will place such officer(s)/official(s) under suspension immediately in case he is competent to do so or shall obtain order from his next superior authority on telephone. For Gazetted Officers telephonic approval of Head of the Department shall be obtained. The charge sheet etc. will be framed by the competent authority on receipt of the Inspection report from the Sr. Executive Engineer, Flying Squad Unit Where it is found that fictitious readings are recorded by the Meter Reader, he should, on receipt of inspection report/order from Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad)/Chief Engineer (Commercial), be placed under suspension by the concerned Executive Engineer All the HPSEBL s employees energy meters as per Instruction No. 23 of Sales Manual be sealed by the concerned Assistant Engineer/Assistant Executive Engineer, after satisfying himself that the phase and neutral connections of the energy meters are in order. In case later on, if the P & N connections of energy meters are found in reverse order, the official should be held responsible for it and suitable action taken against him It may also be made obligatory that after release of connections to HPSEBL s employees, meters must be sealed within 15 days by the Assistant Engineer/Assistant Executive Engineer In the case of the other consumers, action as required under rules shall be taken by the Sr. Executive Engineers/ Assistant Engineers/ Assistant Executive Engineers Immediately. In no case they should wait for the Inspection Report The reports of the Installation Inspectors, whenever desired by the Sr. Executive Engineer (Flying Squad) along with assessment as prepared by them, will be placed at his disposal also. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 98

99 45.10 As per Instructions issued, proper accounting in ledger for the connections of HPSEBL Offices/Complaint Offices/Call centers/sub-stations/work-shops etc. should be ensured and in case it is found that such connections are unauthorized; these shall also be treated as theft cases and official/officer in charge shall be held responsible for such direct connections For enquiring into theft of energy cases, the job shall be entrusted only to officers of HPSEB Ltd., authorized by the H.P. Government as are listed under instruction No INSTRUCTION No. 46 Grant of Incentives to the persons for giving information regarding theft of energy: 46.1 In order to detect the theft/pilferage of energy and to minimize the transmission and distribution losses, HPSEBL has introduced two schemes of cash reward for members of public and the employees of the HPSEBL who furnish concrete information regarding theft/ pilferage of energy and tempering of meter etc. The purpose of these schemes is to curb theft of energy by the unscrupulous elements amongst the consumers Scheme No-1 The scheme covers the members of general public and those employees of the HPSEBL who are not In charge of detection of such offences. Under this scheme, the informer giving information and leading to detection of thefts of energy and resulting in additional revenue realization to the HPSEBL will be eligible for cash reward as under:- 1 Domestic & single phase Commercial/ NDNCS/ TMS Connections 2 Three phase commercial, NDNCS, SIPS, MIPS, LIPS, IDWPS, BS,SLS, TMS Connections 10% of the amount realized. 15% of the amount realized The reward shall be given after the theft is established and the revenue becomes final, settled and collected Where the information leading to the detection of theft does not bring in any additional revenue to HPSEBL, an amount not exceeding Rs.300/- depending upon the seriousness of the case be given as reward to the information within one month from detection of the theft The identity of the informant will be kept secret and will not be divulged even to the officer of the HPSEBL who is deputed for investigation. The informant has to furnish full particulars of the consumer, nature of offence committed and its modus operandi directly to the following officers of the HPSEBL. The information can also be handed over to them in person by the informant between 2.00 PM to 3.00 PM in their office on any working day. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 99

100 (a) (b) (c) Director (OP), HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimla. Director (F&A), HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimla. Chief Engineer (Commercial),HPSEBL, Vidyut Bhawan, Shimla 46.3 Scheme No-II This scheme will cover the HPSEBL employees who have been assigned the duties of detection of theft/ pilferage of energy and meter tempering etc. Those employees who display ingenuity and skill in the detection of theft cases will be eligible for cash reward not exceeding half the amount of reward specified under the first scheme mentioned above. Where the detection has been made by two or more employees acting together, the amount will be shared among them in such a manner as the Director (Op.) and the Director (F&A) may decide Employees who consider themselves eligible for a reward under the scheme shall submit their applications directly to the Director (Op.) by name. In both the schemes, all decisions shall be taken by the Director (Op.) and Director (F&A) The reward is purely ex-gratia. The decision of the Director (Op.) & Director (F&A), regarding quantum of reward and the persons to whom payable etc. will be final INSTRUCTION No. 47 Issue of Identity cards to Flying Squad unit, Meter Inspectors and Officers/ Field Technical Staff under Operation wings: 47.1 Our Inspection Officers may some-time find it difficult to enter the premises of a consumer for checking out equipments as they are not known to the consumers. In view of the nature of their duty the officers are some-time put in very awkward situation as they cannot carryout their duties for fear of prosecution or trespassing etc Keeping in view the above difficulty, the identity cards should be issued by the respective Controlling Officers to the Executive Engineers (Flying Squad) their staff, the Meter Inspectors and other officer assigned the duty of inspection of consumer premises, bearing the name/designation and photograph of the Inspecting officers and suitable notice authorizing the officer/official to access to the consumers premises in accordance with Clause 7.3 of Electricity supply code 2009 and section 135(2) of the Electricity Act The specimen copy of the identity card is given: Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 100

101 Specimen Identity Card: HIMACHAL PRADESH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LIMITED Er. is hereby authorized by HP State Electricity Board Ltd., to enter any premises under Section 135, 163 of the Electricity Act, 2003 and clause 7.3 of the Supply Code, for doing inspections, checking of energy meters, examining or investigation, incidental to the exercise of powers or performance of the duties by the HPSEB Ltd. under this Act. Holder s Signature Name: Design: Address: Er. Space for Stamp size photograph Controlling Officer INSTRUCTION No. 48 Duties and Function of Enforcement Unit: The HPSEB Ltd., has prescribed the following duties and functions to ASE/ Sr. Executive Engineer, Flying Squad units: 48.1 Vigilance The Activity has the following aspects: To keep an eye on the activities of consumers for possible prejudicial use of supply/equipment To watch for public satisfaction so that the good image of the organization is maintained. To implement the above aspects: The Sr. Executive Engineers, Flying Squad are to check energy meters of consumer s premises, energy bills and other records in the Sub-Divisions To investigate the complaints received in the HPSEBL s office /Call centers concerning to pilferage of energy/ Theft/ Unauthorized use etc Intelligence To detect the involvement of HPSEBL s officials/ officers, in giving undue favour to consumers by improper billing, wrong readings and in committing theft of energy, acts of omissions on the part of officials/officers due to negligence of consumer service or non-recovery of HPSEBL s dues are also to be looked into Enforcement As per Clause 7.3 of Electricity Supply Code 2009, Section 135 & section 163 of Act, HPSEBL s officers have the right to enter the premises of the consumer to Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 101

102 keep an eye as to whether the provisions of relevant Acts, Rules and Agreements/Conditions of Supply are adhered to All irregularities noticed are to be brought out to the notice of all concerned officers of operation wing to ensure removal of such irregularities and recovery of dues and penalties as per rules In addition to above, the following specific duties are also to be performed by the Flying Squad units: Detection of un-authorized extensions of load at the premises of all categories of consumers Detection of inaccurate registration of energy by meters/ metering equipment due to wrong/incomplete connections Detection of all other reasons leading to leakage of revenue Checking of peak load running of industries Investigation of complaints received in local office /complaint office or call center, with respect to suppression of seniority in grant of connections, demand of illegal gratification etc Each Flying Squad unit is to check at least 1200 Nos. connections of all categories during a year. INSTRUCTION No. 49 Responsibility of Field Staff to Check Theft of Energy : 49.1 The field officers/officials who are required to check and seal the meter equipment should take due care while affixing seal to the meter/metering equipment. Responsibility of Large supply Small & Medium Bulk Other Field Staff to Check Theft of Energy With connected load supply and IDWPS Supply Connections categories 101 to 500KW Above 500KW Sr. Executive 25% 50% 10% 50% 1% Engineer. AE/AEEs/EE 50% 100% 25% 100% 5% 49.2 The checking of following number of minimum connections in a year by the A.Es/A.E.Es/ XENs in- charge of the Sub Division has been made obligatory by HPSEBL. Compliance reports for the same shall be sent to the next higher authority every quarter with a copy to the Chief Engineer (Commercial) The inspection works shall be so planned so as to spread it evenly over all the four quarters of the year. Further, it may also be ensured that all 11 KV and above connections are checked by the Sr. Executive Engineer at least once in three months. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 102

103 SECTION VI Miscellaneous Instructions INSTRUCTION No. 50 Procedure to be followed in the submission of a copy of the Judgment of a Court to Head Office (ED Personnel): In order that the interests of the HPSEB Ltd., are not jeopardized by any delay in procuring a copy of the judgment of a court, the following procedure should be adopted: Normally a copy of the judgment should be obtained and submitted to the Head Office by the Officer of the HPSEBL, who is responsible for the conduct of the case, within two weeks from the date of pronouncement of the judgment Where the judgment is against HPSEBL it must be ensured that a copy of the judgment reaches the Head Office within a week without fail so that necessary action be taken to file an appeal or a revised application as the case may be The judgment/orders should also include the order/judgments passed by CGRF, Ombudsman and Commission. INSTRUCTION No. 51 Intimation of Shut down of Supply: 51.1 Whenever it is found necessary to shut down either a section or the whole of the supply system timely intimation on prescribed Form CS-27 should invariably be given to the consumers, particularly the important localities or a number of town/villages at least 24 hours in advance and the planned shutdown should not exceed 12 hours a day. A prior intimation should also be sent to the Executive Director (Personnel) of the HPSEB Ltd. for getting the same broadcast over the A.I.R. and published in the news papers for the information of public It should, however, be made known to the consumers that the intimation is sent to them just to avoid inconvenience to them and will not be responsible in the event of any omissions to do so or in the event of non-receipt of such intimation by them. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 103

104 52.1 Improvement of Power Factor: Instruction No. 52 In order to minimize the transmission and distribution system losses in electrical system, it shall be the obligation on part of both the licensee and the consumer to maintain own average monthly power factor, as may be provided in the relevant tariff order. The power factor at any point of Industrial Supply must not be less than 0.9 (lagging), and in the event of the said power factor being found to be less than 0.9, the consumer shall be liable to pay p.f. surcharge as per the Schedule of Tariff and in case of the p.f. being found to be less than 0.85, he is liable to have his installation disconnected from the HPSEBL supply system. It is, therefore, obligatory on the part of all the industrial consumers to ensure a minimum Power Factor of 0.9 so that the supply system of HPSEBL is not adversely affected and the supplier is saved of the unnecessary financial loss. Static shunt capacitor by virtue of being most convenient in handling and operation is the most suitable and simple device for achieving this objective. Improvement in Power Factor not only discharges the legal obligation of the consumer but also has a handful of benefit both to consumer as well as to the supplier. Only the consumers with inductive loads are required to install shunt capacitors, other industrial loads like synchronous motors and resistance furnaces etc, which otherwise maintain high power factor are not covered under these instructions Benefits and Economics of Capacitors: In addition to ensuring a better supply voltage and reduced fluctuations at consumer s end, power factor improvement would also help HPSEBL in relaxing much of the restrictions on working hours of the connections and grant of new connections from the available plant capacity resulting into enhanced production Improvement in power factor is of vital importance from the consumer s point of view as it results into a very substantial saving in his monthly energy consumption bill. On an average, the cost of the equipment (capacitor), even after meeting with the depreciation and interest charges is paid for completely within a period of about 2¼ years from the date of installation beside additional fringe benefits to the consumers by way of better utilization of installed equipment like distribution transformer, switchgear and cables etc. and by way of deferring the installation of additional capacity Capacitors are sensitive equipment and are liable to early damage if not maintained and operated properly. All the consumers in whose premises the capacitors are installed should observe the guide-lines as under regarding selection, operation and maintenance of capacitors so that these can be utilized most effectively without premature damage Choice and rating of capacitors All the Industrial consumers should ensure that capacitor units installed at their premises conform to ISI The capacitors can be applied across Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 104

105 individual motor or for group of connections. Where the load consists of a number of small or fractional horse power Motors operating at different intervals, it is economical to apply group connections. In case of large motors the capacitors may be applied across each motor individually For choosing the proper value of shunt capacitors to be installed in a factory the guidance of local engineer of the firm supplying the capacitors or of HPSEB should be sought In case of Factories having large rectifiers or arc furnace loads harmonics are also present with basic load. The application of capacitors in such factories requires special consideration and therefore the type of the load should be specified while ordering the capacitors. Before and after installation of capacitors in such factories, the representative of the firm supplying the capacitors should be consulted because harmonics can damage the capacitors and can also cause higher voltage rise which will damage the other equipment In cases where humidity is relatively high, the capacitors with a higher insulation level should be chosen. Insulation level should be of higher range than normally provided. This can be quoted in specification while placing an order with the supplying firm When it is desirable to improve the power factor of industrial motors or to have the capacitors also coming on and off with motors e.g. for a factory where major load is of automatically controlled air compressors, the capacitor should be connected in such a way that its reactive out-put is less than or equal to magnetizing KVAR of motor. Over capacity of capacitor is likely to damage motor and capacitor itself due to self excitation of motors In some cases the consumer may prefer to install a single capacitor for a group of motors or other inductive loads. In such cases, the capacitor requirement may be worked out on the basis of the total capacity of such motors etc. by treating the total capacity as a single load. The power factor should however be measured at still more frequent intervals so as to ensure that it does not fall down to less than 0.90 lagging The following are the generally recommended values of Capacitors for different HP motors keeping in view the above considerations. Capacitors KVAR at different Motor Ratings and Speeds Motor HP Speed of motor (RPM) Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 105

106 The power factor of motors (without capacitors) adopted for working out the recommended capacitors ratings given above is as under: - Table showing original power factor of induction motors of different ratings & speeds (rounded off) Motor rating in HP Speed of Motor (RPM) In case group connection is to be applied and, the initial power factor Cos Ø 1 is to be improved to Cos Ø 2 the capacitor KVAR required will be as per chart on following: - Original power factor Capacitor KVAR required per KW load to improve the original factor Cos Ø 1 to Cos Ø Cos Ø 1 Cos Ø Cos Ø Cos Ø Cos Ø Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 106

107 How to use Table:- Let the original power factor Cos Ø 1 be 0.64 Desired Power factor Cos Ø Capacitor KVAR required per KW load from the above Table 0.58 Load demand of the consumer 500KW Capacitor KVAR required 0.58x KVAR 52.4 Guide Lines for Installation of Capacitors: Capacitors should be installed in well ventilated rooms so that there is adequate dissipation of heat produced by the capacitors. Capacitors should not be installed near source of heat such as arc furnaces and other heating devices etc. because they are liable to get damaged earlier The capacitors should be installed on raised dry platforms as dampness shortens the life of capacitors HPSEBL has specified that all motors above 5 BHP load should be connected through Star-Delta starters when a capacitor is connected to a motor associated with Star-Delta starter, the arrangement should be such that no over-voltage can occur during operation of starter, for this, a 6 terminal Capacitor should be installed. The figure given at DIAG. No. 1 gives connections of 6terminal and 3 terminal capacitors. The consumers while ordering capacitors should specifically mention the requirement of 6 terminal capacitors, when the motor is provided with a Star-Delta starter Proper earthing should be provided whenever capacitors are installed otherwise these can be a source of danger. The outer metallic containers of the capacitor bank should be solidly earthed through independent earth (see DIAG, 1, 2 and 3). It should also be ensured that No LIVE PARTS make a contact with casing The switches, fuses and where-even some automatic circuit breaking gear is employed, should be of good quality and have proper contacts. The bad or worn out contacts cause damage to capacitor due to sparking on the contacts. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 107

108 Switches, Cables, CTs should have rating 1.5 times the current rating of capacitors Fuses should have rating 1.6 to 2 times the current rating of capacitors Where the rating of feeding transformer is 100 KVA or less, ordinary fuses may be used. For higher rating of transformers HRC fuses may be used The switches must be capable to disconnect the entire installation of capacitor when the electric supply fails even momentarily. For this purpose, switch-gear having no voltage release devices should be provided Proper foundations should also be provided where-ever necessary for capacitors General operation of Capacitors Temperature, voltage and current limits specified should be strictly adhered to and only in case of emergency capacitors should be operated at maximum permissible voltage and maximum ambient temperature simultaneously. The maximum permissible voltage is 110% of the rated voltage specified on name plate When a capacitor is switched off, its residual voltage falls gradually through discharge resistance. This voltage must fall to 50 volts or less, before same unit is switched on again. Therefore, it is necessary to wait for at least one minute before disconnected capacitor is again switched on otherwise capacitor is likely to fail Discharge resistance should be checked time and again to ensure that these are not damaged or burnt. In case of any damage, these should be promptly replaced The cover boxes of capacitors should be occasionally opened to check loose connections, blown fuses and dirt etc The capacitors should be saved from attack by insects and corrosive atmosphere For Capacitors provided in group for number of Motors When the group connection is provided, it is essential that capacitors are put in circuit according to load requirement for which it is preferable to have two graded capacitor banks of 1/3 and 2/3 capacity. This gradation can provide three steps of 1/3, 2/3 and depending upon if No. 1 and 2 or both banks are switched on each bank should have its separate controlling switch capable of switching on or off the bank according to the requirement When there are two or more units, care should be taken that while switching on second unit in parallel with first unit there is sufficient load i.e. current through the mains The switches controlling the capacitors should have no volt release to switch off automatically when the supply fails even momentarily, otherwise the capacitors may be switched off immediately by manual operation and put in circuit when motors have been started and loaded. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 108

109 52.7 Testing of L.T. Shunt Capacitors in case of SP & AP consumers A very simple arrangement is mentioned below for testing of LT capacitors installed in case of SP and AP consumers of HPSEB (DIAG. No-4) 3 Nos. 400 volts Neon Lamps should be connected in star and the neutral be left Floating. The other three terminals should be connected to three terminals of L.T Capacitor which is required to be tested. The healthiness of the unit is checked by switching on the supply and then switching it off. If the capacitor unit is healthy, the light of the Neon Lamp will take some time to go off because the capacitor takes some time to discharge, on the other hand if the capacitor is damaged/defective, the Neon Light will go off as soon as the supply is switched off This method can be conveniently applied in the field because three Neon Lamps can be easily fixed on wooden round block. The diagram of the arrangement is enclosed. The LT capacitor installed or to be installed at the SP/AP consumer s premises may be checked by the field officers for their healthiness with the arrangement In order to ensure that the consumers maintain the requisite power factor, the field officers should check the power factor of all the industrial consumers, particularly having loads exceeding 20 KW and for whom Power Factor Surcharge is applicable, at least once half yearly. The average Power Factor shall be measured within the maximum demand and 75% of the maximum demand by means of a p.f. meter or other suitable means. In cases, however, where KVAH meters have been installed, the KVAH meter readings may be taken monthly at the time of taking the energy meter readings and the average power factor in such cases shall be determined by dividing the KWH supplied during the month with the KVAH supplied during the month. The consumers should be advised of the benefits accruing from the better power factor. Such consumers who fail to maintain the prescribed power factor should be served with notice asking them to install the necessary equipment for improving the power factor otherwise their installation would be liable for disconnection. The p.f. surcharge should be continued to be levied for so long as the power factor is not raised to 0.90 percent as per provisions in the tariff. Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 109

110 CONNECTION DIAGRAM OF CAPACITOR INSTRUCTION No. 53 Authorization of Legal Documents: 53.1 The following Officers are authorized to sign, attest and authenticate any plaint, application, petition, written statement, replication, affidavit and any other legal instrument or document or power of attorney to any counsel on behalf of the H.P. State Electricity Board Ltd. in connection with any fresh or pending case or Sales Manual Instructions-HPSEBL Page 110