Residents living in group housing societies in Uttarakhand will need the consent of at least 50% of the society’s residents to obtain an individual electricity connection for their flat. The Uttarakhand Electricity Ombudsman has reaffirmed this requirement while dismissing an appeal filed by a woman seeking a separate power connection for her apartment.
The case was filed by a woman residing in Pacific Estate, located in Vasant Vihar, Dehradun. She had appealed for an independent electricity connection for her flat, arguing that she was entitled to receive a separate connection without relying on the society’s existing power arrangement.
After hearing the matter, Electricity Ombudsman D.P. Gairola upheld the earlier order passed by the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum. The Ombudsman ruled that individual electricity connections in group housing societies can only be considered after complying with the guidelines issued by the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission (UERC) and the relevant government notifications.
According to the order, obtaining consent from at least 50% of the society’s residents is a mandatory part of the prescribed process. Without fulfilling this requirement, power distribution authorities cannot issue an individual electricity connection to a flat owner.
In a separate matter, the Electricity Ombudsman also issued recovery orders against a consumer. However, no further details regarding that case were disclosed.
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The ruling reinforces the existing regulatory framework governing electricity connections in group housing societies and clarifies that individual applicants must first satisfy the consent conditions laid down by the regulatory authorities before seeking a separate electricity connection.
