Lucknow: The UP electricity regulatory commission (UPERC) has issued a show-cause notice to UP power corporation limited (UPPCL), seeking an explanation as to why a penalty of Rs1 lakh per day should not be imposed for failure to restore electricity supply to prepaid smart meter consumers within the stipulated time frame.In its notice issued on Thursday, UPERC pointed out that UPPCL has acknowledged non-compliance with regulation 16.11.1 of the UPERC’s standards of performance regulations, 2019, which mandates restoration of power supply within two hours of recharge in the case of prepaid meters. The commission noted that as many as 1.93 lakh prepaid smart meter consumers were affected by delays beyond the prescribed two-hour limit.The notice refers to data submitted by UPPCL on April 17, in response to an earlier notice from the commission. The data covered prepaid smart meter reconnections across 16 different dates between Mar 13 and April 10. During the period, electricity supply to over 40.27 lakh prepaid consumer households was disrupted due to negative balance in their accounts.“Upon examination, UPERC observed that the percentage of cases where power supply was restored within two hours dropped as low as 77%,” read the notice.According to the commission, “The performance fell below the minimum threshold stipulated under the regulations on 10 out of the 16 days reviewed. The regulations require discoms to meet the standard of restoring supply within the prescribed time in at least 95% of cases on a daily basis. Failure to achieve this benchmark constitutes a violation of the standards of performance.”In view of the violations, the commission has written to UPPCL asking to explain “why a penalty of Rs1 lakh under the Electricity Act, 2003 should not be imposed for each day of default”.Potential penalty pertains to violations recorded on Mar 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 23, 25 and 28, and Apr 2 and 7, 2026.The commission has directed UPPCL to submit its reply within 15 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to provide a satisfactory explanation could result in financial penalties and further regulatory action.INSETNitish Kumar takes charge as MD of UPPCLNitish Kumar formally assumed charge as managing director of UPPCL in Lucknow on Thursday. He took over from Pankaj Kumar, who has proceeded on central deputation. A 2010-batch IAS officer, Kumar was earlier serving as MD of Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitran Nigam Ltd. He has also served as district magistrate of Ayodhya and Bareilly.UP Rajya Vidyut Parishad Abhiyanta Sangh leaders including Jitendra Gurjar, general secretary and senior vice president Prabhat Singh, described Nitish Kumar as a forward-looking and performance-driven officer, crediting him with major reforms at DVVNL, including innovative training initiatives, improved digital systems, higher revenue realisation, better loss control and enhanced consumer services.
