Sample RTI: DISCOM Power Cut, Voltage Fluctuation and Bill Dispute Records

• New connection delayed beyond 30 days from completed application (Section 43 of the Electricity Act, 2003).
• Repeated unscheduled outages on your feeder.
• Voltage fluctuation outside +/- 6% of declared voltage (IS 12360).
• Transformer failure with restoration delayed past the SoP window.
• Bill dispute: average billing for a working meter, slab miscalculation, or wrong tariff category.
• Disconnection without 15-day Section 56 notice.
• Penalty / late-payment surcharge added on a disputed bill.
• Compensation under SoP regulations not credited despite repeated outages.

• Quick service complaint: lodge on the DISCOM 1912 helpline or app first; the helpline ticket number is what an RTI then asks about.
• Compensation claim by suit: file before the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) of the DISCOM under the Electricity Act, 2003; an RTI prepares evidence for that forum but does not award compensation.
• Asking about a neighbour's bill: protected under Section 8(1)(j).
• Bulk-tariff policy challenge: the tariff order itself is challengeable only before the SERC or Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL).

• State your Consumer Number / Service Connection Number / K-Number.
• Specify the disputed period with start and end dates.
• Quote the DISCOM SoP Regulations of your State, which fix time-bound restoration and compensation.
• Ask for the transformer feeder log, the outage register, and the complaint redressal SLA report.
• For voltage issues, ask for the voltage profile at your distribution transformer.
• For bill disputes, ask for the meter test certificate and the tariff schedule in force.
• Send by Speed Post (Acknowledgement Due).

You may ask for your own connection records, the published tariff order, the SoP regulations, the feeder-level outage log, and the transformer-level voltage profile. The transformer / feeder data is not personal: it is system data and disclosable under Section 4(1)(b). A neighbour's consumption, a builder's records, or another consumer's complaint file remain protected by Section 8(1)(j).

To
The Public Information Officer
[DISCOM name, e.g., BSES Rajdhani Power Limited / Tata Power Delhi Distribution
 / BESCOM / MSEDCL / Kerala State Electricity Board / KESCo Kanpur, etc.]
[Full postal address, PIN]

Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Records relating to electricity service connection [Consumer No. XXXX]

Sir / Madam,

1. I, [Full name], a citizen of India residing at [full address], apply under
   Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 for the records below.

2. Particulars for record-identification:
       Consumer Number / SC No / K-No : ________________
       Address of premises            : ________________
       Tariff category                : ________________
       Disputed period                : ________________

3. Information sought (please supply certified copies):
   (a) Certified copy of my connection-application file with all sanction
       and load-enhancement orders.
   (b) Outage log for my distribution transformer / feeder for the disputed
       period, with date, time, duration, and reason.
   (c) Restoration time recorded against each outage and the SoP-compliance
       audit, if any.
   (d) Voltage profile recorded at my distribution transformer for the
       disputed period.
   (e) Certified copy of the meter test certificate, if a meter test was
       carried out.
   (f) Certified copy of the tariff schedule in force on the dates of the
       disputed bills, with the SERC notification number.
   (g) My complaint-redressal log (1912 / call centre / app) for the
       disputed period, with the SoP outcome on each ticket.
   (h) Certified copy of the SoP-compliance compensation worksheet, if any
       compensation was due to me but not credited.
   (i) Name, designation and office address of the officer presently holding
       my file.

4. I enclose the prescribed application fee of Rs 10 by way of Indian Postal
   Order in favour of the Accounts Officer of the DISCOM.

5. Please send the reply to the address below by Registered Post.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

To
The First Appellate Authority
[DISCOM name]

Subject: First appeal under Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005:
       Non-supply of records on electricity service complaint

Sir / Madam,

1. I filed RTI dated [DD/MM/YYYY] (Speed Post No. [XXXX]) seeking the records
   listed therein.

2. The 30-day period under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 expired on
   [DD/MM/YYYY]. The PIO has not replied / has replied partly on points: [list].

3. I therefore appeal under Section 19(1) and pray that the PIO be directed
   to supply the records sought within the time fixed by you.

4. I draw attention to Section 19(8)(a)(i) on costs and Section 20(1) on
   penalties for unreasonable delay.

Yours faithfully,
Signature
Name    : ___________________
Address : ___________________
Date    : ___________________

• powermin.gov.in: Ministry of Power, statutory framework.
• cea.nic.in: Central Electricity Authority, technical standards.
• forumofregulators.gov.in: Forum of Regulators, model SoP regulations.
• The Electricity Act, 2003: Sections 43 (new connection), 57 (Standards of Performance), 142 (penalty).
• Bureau of Indian Standards IS 12360: voltage tolerance for distribution.
• The Right to Information Act, 2005, Sections 6(1), 7(1) and 19(1).

Each State Electricity Regulatory Commission notifies its own Standards of Performance Regulations. Typical urban window: 2 hours for normal fault, 24 hours for transformer failure, 48 hours for storm-related damage. The exact figure for your State is available from the SERC's published SoP order, and your RTI should ask for it.

Not directly. The RTI gives you the outage log + SoP compliance record. Take that record to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) of the DISCOM, which can award compensation under the Electricity Act, 2003 read with the SoP regulations.

The first test on the consumer's complaint is free if the meter is found defective. If the meter is found correct within tolerance, the test fee fixed by the SERC is recovered from the consumer. The test certificate is on file either way and is disclosable.

Ask for the voltage profile at your distribution transformer, the transformer load chart, and the complaint log. If voltage is outside +/- 6%, you have evidence for a CGRF claim against the DISCOM for damaged appliances.

Pay the undisputed portion under protest, lodge a written dispute, and file the RTI immediately. Most SERCs prohibit disconnection for the disputed amount during the pendency of a CGRF complaint, but you must record the dispute in writing first.

• AI RTI Drafter: builds a customised letter in 60 seconds.
• Sample RTI index: full library.
• First appeal guide: Section 19(1) procedure.
• Sample RTI: water bill: utility cousin.
• Sample RTI: complaint follow-up: generic complaint sample.
• Sample RTI: road work: civic infrastructure cousin.

Last reviewed: 9 May 2026

Sources verified against the Electricity Act, 2003, model SoP regulations published by the Forum of Regulators, the Right to Information Act, 2005, and DISCOM tariff orders as on 9 May 2026.

Filing RTI for electricity complaints is effective for resolving power issues. Here is the complete guide:

1. Step 1: Common electricity complaints. (a) excessive billing (the bill is much higher than usual — possibly due to a faulty meter or wrong reading), (b) meter not working (the meter is not recording consumption — or is recording incorrectly), © frequent power cuts (the area experiences unplanned power cuts — affecting daily life and business), (d) voltage fluctuation (low or high voltage — damaging appliances), (e) new connection delay (the application for a new connection is pending for months), (f) pole/shifting request pending (the pole is in front of the gate — the shifting request is not processed).
2. Step 2: How to complaint. (a) file a complaint with the electricity distribution company (DISCOM — via the toll-free number, mobile app, or website), (b) the complaint is registered with a reference number (keep this number — it is essential for tracking and RTI), © the DISCOM must resolve within: (i) billing disputes: 30 days, (ii) meter issues: 15 days, (iii) power cuts: immediate (restoration), (iv) new connection: 7-30 days (as per Electricity Supply Code), (d) if the DISCOM does not resolve: file a complaint with the Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC — each state has one).
3. Step 3: File RTI. File RTI with the DISCOM (if government-owned — most DISCOMs are public authorities) asking for: (a) the status of complaint number [number] filed on [date] (for issue: [describe]), (b) the action taken on the complaint (including the date of action and the resolution), © the reason for delay (if not resolved within the timeline), (d) the meter reading records for [consumer number] for the last 6 months (to verify the billing), (e) the meter test report (if the meter was tested — to verify if the meter is faulty), (f) the power cut log for [area/substation] for [month] (to verify the frequency and duration of power cuts).
4. Step 4: Excessive billing. (a) check the meter reading (compare the bill reading with the actual meter reading — if different, the bill is based on an estimated reading), (b) request a meter test (file a written request with the DISCOM — the DISCOM tests the meter and provides a report), © if the meter is faulty: the DISCOM must: (i) replace the meter, (ii) revise the bill based on the average consumption of the previous 3 months, (d) file RTI for the meter test report (to verify the test was conducted properly).
5. Step 5: Voltage fluctuation. (a) file a complaint with the DISCOM (voltage fluctuation — provide the address and the duration of the problem), (b) request a voltage check (the DISCOM sends a technician to measure the voltage — the report shows if the voltage is within the permissible range: 220V ± 6%), © if the voltage is outside the range: the DISCOM must install a voltage stabiliser or transformer (to regulate the voltage), (d) file RTI for the voltage report (to verify the readings and the action taken).
6. Step 6: New connection delay. (a) the Electricity Supply Code mandates: (i) single-phase connection: 7 days, (ii) three-phase connection: 30 days (from the date of application with all documents and fee), (b) if the DISCOM delays: file RTI asking for the status and the reason for delay, © file a complaint with the SERC (the Regulatory Commission can order the DISCOM to provide the connection within a timeframe), (d) file a writ petition in the High Court (the court can order the DISCOM to provide the connection — with compensation for the delay).
7. Step 7: Escalation. (a) file a complaint with the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC — the SERC has a grievance redressal mechanism), (b) file a complaint with the Electricity Ombudsman (appointed by the SERC — the Ombudsman can order the DISCOM to resolve the issue and pay compensation), © file a consumer complaint (the electricity service is a service — the deficiency is covered under the Consumer Protection Act), (d) file a writ petition (if the DISCOM and SERC do not act — the High Court can order resolution).

See Find PIO and Insurer Cannot Reject.