Chandigarh, August 8- In a landmark move to simplify electricity-related procedures and promote consumer-friendly governance, the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) has notified the 6th Amendment to the Electricity Supply Code Regulations, 2014. The amendment has come into immediate effect upon its publication in the official Haryana Government Gazette and is applicable across the entire state.
Under this amendment, the existing provision was, In case of LT connections (other than domestic supply connections), where the transformer has been installed by the consumer and is exclusively for his supply, the transformer if and when required to be replaced/repaired for any reason including theft, shall be so replaced/repaired by sharing 20 percent of the cost by the consumer and 80 percent by the licensee (for replacement of DT within warranty period) or 10 percent of the cost by the consumer and 90 percent by the licensee (for replacement of DT beyond warranty period) except when the damage is due to natural events including cyclone, floods, storms or other occurrences beyond consumer’s control, in which case the licensee shall bear the entire cost of repair/replacement.
It was observed that the farmers of the State are financially burdened to pay the cost of Distribution Transformers for replacement/ repair in case of their individual transformers in the event of theft of the same. The Commission has decided to delete the aforementioned provision to relieve the farmers from this burden.
Special Relief for Farmers
A noteworthy provision in the amendment provides relief to farmers. If an agricultural power (AP) connection needs to be shifted within a 70-meter radius of its original location on the same landholding, due to unavoidable reasons like borewell failure, land acquisition by the government, or water salinity, then the entire cost of relocation shall be borne by the licensee. This cost will be recovered by the licensee through its Annual Revenue Requirement (ARR).
Chairperson, HERC, Sh. Nand Lal Sharma, while approving the amendment said that this regulation is a historic step toward empowering consumer rights and extending genuine relief to farmers. It will make the electricity system more transparent, accountable, and technically robust.
Through this amendment, the Haryana Government has reaffirmed its commitment to consumer participation, technical compliance, and farmer welfare. This initiative is expected to strengthen trust, efficiency, and fairness in the power distribution system.
