The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (HPERC), on October 13, 2026, notified the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum and Ombudsman) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations, 2026, under the Electricity Act, 2003. The amendment revises the requirements for establishing Additional Consumer Grievances Redressal Forums and modifies the eligibility criteria for membership.
The amendment requires distribution licensees to establish at least one Additional Forum for each Operation Zone, under intimation to the Commission. For consumers under a single-part retail tariff, these Forums may handle all monetary and non-monetary complaints. For consumers under a two-part retail tariff, they may handle all types of complaints where the disputed or claimed amount does not exceed ₹4 lakh and the standard supply voltage does not exceed 33 kV. Existing Circle-level Additional Forums will continue until the tenure of their Independent Member expires, after which the prescribed transfer and establishment of Zonal-level Forums will apply. The amendment also increases the experience requirement under Regulation 7(1)(ii)(a) from 10 years to 20 years.
The Regulations will come into force from the date of their publication in the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh.
[Notification No. H(1)-1/2012]
