Report of Indian Institute of Public Administration ... - Ministry of Power

National Report (Vol.-II)
Study on ‘Impact of Restructuring of SEBs’
(b) Staffing Requirements of the Commissions: The Commissions should
have full autonomy in matters relating to staffing pattern, organisational
structure and adequate powers to recruit staff, as required. An overall
ceiling on expenditure could, however, be fixed.
(c) Funds for the Commissions: In view of the inordinate delay in making the
Fund operational, it may be desirable to fix appropriate time limit for the
same.
(d) Powers of Civil Courts for the Commissions: While the Regulatory
Commissions have been given the same powers as those vested in the
civil courts in proceedings before them, and also in respect of matters
specified under section 94 of the EA, 2003, their orders do not have the
same force as those of the Appellate Tribunal.
(i) Recourse to the Ombudsman: There should be only one channel to be
crossed before the consumer can approach the Ombudsman.
6.9 Establishing a Power Sector Reform Fund
6.9.1 The Expert Committee on State-Specific Reforms (2002) had recommended
the establishment of a Power Sector Reform Fund (PSRF) to enhance the
creditability and mitigate the risk of policy reversals, so as to ring-fence both
the liabilities and the inflows earmarked for the sector restructuring. Recently,
the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has recommended the
setting up of such a fund. The above recommendations are endorsed and it is
urged that all States should establish adequate PSRF.
6.9.2 The PSRF should also be used to meet specified expenses such as providing
consultancy support to the new companies for institutional strengthening,
capacity building and exceptional assistance to meet situations arising out of
natural calamities, etc.
6.9.3 …..a part of the corpus, say up to 50 per cent, on an equal contribution basis
should be given from the Central Government resources.
6.9.4 The regulations and guidelines to administer the PSRF should be formulated in
consultation with the respective SERCs.
6.10 Access to Central Institutional Funds by Privatised Utilities
6.10.2 In order to accelerate the reforms process, Central Financial Institutions like
PFC and REC should be requested to extend their assistance to the privatised
distribution companies by relaxing their norms, as required. For instance, such
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