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Tamil nadu state electricity minister Arcot N Veerasamy said that the government will make sure that domestic power connection is given within a day of applying, and consumers can pay their power bills even on Sundays. Addressing the media after attending a workshop on protection of consumers under the Electricity Act 2003 organised by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission, Veerasamy said he was concerned that TNEB is unable to provide uninterrupted power supply to consumers due to power shortage.

TNEB has been able to give power connection within a day in Coimbatore, the minister said, adding that the idea had come from chief minister M Karunanidhi. "Last year, nearly 1.5 lakh consumers in Coimbatore were provided power connection the day after applications were filed. This will be made practical throughout the state. The officials who do not provide the service in a day's time will be suspended," he said.

Low tension consumers will be given connection a fortnight after applying and high tension consumers within a month. "These two will be possible only after the power shortage is mitigated. We are sure that by 2012 we will have 6,000 MW as generation plants are coming up in five places across the state," the minister said.

On house owners charging their tenants more than the meter reading, he said, "The tenants can complain to TNEB or at my office. If found guilty, the landlord's electricity connection will be snapped," he said.

Veerasamy said that the chief minister was keen on setting up 90 sub-stations every year, but the problem was finding suitable land. "We are ready to pay higher than the market price, but there is no land," he said.

Justice M Karpaga Vinayagam, chairperson of the appellate tribunal for electricity, New Delhi called for an ombudsman who could sort out problems of consumers at grievance redressal forums. He also said a majority of the states had completed the process of unbundling their electricity board. "Unbundling will benefit consumers as there will be competition between the units," he said. TNERC chairman Kabilan also spoke on the occasion.

Source - Times of India