AERC: New Electricity Connections Require GMC Holding Number

GUWAHATI: In a recent order released on Friday by the Assam Power Regulatory Commission (AERC), it was stated that a GMC holding number was required for any new electricity connections. According to the AERC's mandate, current APDCL customers must additionally link their consumer number to their GMC holding number.

Following a direction from the State government requiring the submission of a GMC holding number in order to receive an electricity connection, the AERC altered its regulations in order to carry out the order.

The APDCL had previously submitted a miscellaneous petition on November 14 to amend the regulations of 4.2 of the AERC regulations, which includes three documents—the AADHAR, voter identity card, and holding number/assessment number of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC)—as a requirement for new electricity connections. However, this petition was previously denied on December 16, 2022.

To identify ghost customers and improve the database of people who dwell in the GMC region, the State Government issued a directive through letter on January 13 that specified to link the holding number/assessment number of GMC with the consumer number provided by APDCL.

The AERC has decided to amend Regulation 4.2 of the AERC (Electricity Supply Code) Regulation 2017 as AERC (Electricity Supply Code) Fifth Amendment, 2023 in light of the aforementioned direction by the State Government and considering it to be a directive under Section 108 of the Electricity Act, 2003.

"If the applicant is an individual living within the territory of Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), the applicant shall have to give his/her GMC holding number/assessment number along with the application," read the amended Regulation 4.2 of the Principal Regulations.

All current customers who reside in the GMC area must also upload their holding number and assessment number, it further stated.

The regulation also includes a category for temporary connections that may be excused from providing a holding number or assessment number, such as government buildings, houses of worship, streetlights, agriculture/irrigation categories, society connections of apartments, and streetlights.

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