Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a notification in
2004 to all the electricity supply companies in Karnataka (ESCOMs) to
set up a Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum (CGRF) for the speedy
resolution of consumer problems related to electricity supply. CGRF is
quite similar to the consumer fora set up under the Consumer Protection
Act, but CGRF is limited to deficiency in service by the parent ESCOM
only. It has three members, two from the ESCOM and the third from a
recognized consumer organization. Billing problems, defective meters,
delays in providing service, voltage fluctuations, etc, all come within
the purview of the CGRF.
KERC has recently published (17-1-13 issue of Karnataka Gazette)
a draft amendment to its earlier notification and invited comments from
the public. A major amendment is changing the qualification of the
third member of the CGRF from "a member of a recognized consumer
organization" to "a person with experience or knowledge of electricity
sector/consumer affairs".
Mysore Grahakara Parishat has opposed this change. It believes
that a Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum must have a consumer
organization representative to argue the case of the consumer. As it is,
two of the three members of the CGRF are members of the electricity
supply company and with the proposed amendment, there is a fear that all
the members of the CGRF will be aligned with the company and there will
be no one to argue the case of the consumer. This would defeat the very
purpose of setting up the CGRF.
Maj.Gen.(Rtd.) S.G. Vombatkere, Mysore Grahakara Parishat