Energetica India Magazine December 2020

NEWS POLICY India-Vietnam Ink MoU to Explore New Biz Opportunities, Knowledge Sharing in Solar Energy Government First Time Lays Down Rights of Power Consumers India and Vietnam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in order topromoteexchangeof knowledge, best practices, and information between the two countries and to explore new business opportunities in the field of solar energy. The MoU was signed between Pranav R. Mehta, Chairman of National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) and Dao Du Duong, President of Vietnam Clean Energy Association on the sidelines of India-Vietnam Virtual Summit. During the summit, India and Vietnam signed 7 agreements for cooperation in areas including defence, petrochemicals and nuclear energy. The Virtual Sumit was Co-chaired by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and Nguyen Xuan Phuc Prime Minister of Vietnam, during which they exchanged views on wide-ranging bilateral, regional and global issues and set forth the Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People to guide the future development of India - Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two Prime Ministers reviewed ongoing bilateral cooperation initiatives, and also discussed regional and global issues. Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Plan of Action for period 2021-2023 to implement the Joint Vision. The leaders affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in all areas of engagement. They agreed to support each other’s national development priorities and work together towards the shared objective of a peaceful, stable, secure, free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. During the Summit, PM Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to its development and capacity building partnership with Vietnam, through initiatives such as Quick Impact Projects, ITEC and e-ITEC initiatives, PhD fellowships, as well as projects to support Vietnam’s SDGs, digital connectivity and heritage conservation efforts. The government has promulgated rules laying down the rights of power consumers in the country through Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. While issuing these rules RK Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, said that, “these rules shall empower the consumers of electricity and added that these Rules emanate from the conviction that the power systems exist to serve the consumers and the consumers have rights to get the reliable services and quality electricity.” The Minister said that distribution companies (Discoms) across the country are monopolies – whether government or private – and the consumer has no alternative – therefore it was necessary that the consumers’ rights be laid down in Rules and a system for enforcement of these rights be put in place. “This is what the rules provide for,” Singh added. He further said that, “these rules are also an important step towards furthering the ease of doing business across the country. Implementation of these Rules shall ensure that new electricity connections, refunds and other services are given in a time bound manner. Wilful disregard to consumer rights will result in levying penalties on service providers.” He said that this is one of the major initiatives and yet another step by the Union Government to put consumer in the centre-stage of public utility services. The Rules will benefit about 30 crore existing and the prospective consumers in the country. Stressing upon the need for awareness of all consumers especially in rural areas and villages, he said, states and Discoms are being advised to provide wide publicity to these highly consumer friendly Rules of the Government. Here’re the key areas covered in the Electricity (Rights of consumers) Rules: • Rights and Obligations • Release of new connection and modification in existing connection • Metering • Billing and payment • Disconnection and reconnection provisions • Reliability of supply • Consumer as Prosumer • Standards of performance • Compensation mechanism • Call Centre for Consumer Services • Grievance redressal mechanism 26 energetica INDIA- December_2020