Occupancy Certificate not essential for new electricity connections soon

Bengaluru: Soon electricity consumers including multi-storey buildings, apartments, houses, and commercial establishments, will be able to get new electricity connections without submitting Occupancy Certificates (OC).

Presently, all ESCOMS in Karnataka requires consumers to submit OC compulsorily for getting new electricity connections. However, this rule was inconveniencing the consumers.

To ease the common man’s problems the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) has decided to let go of the compulsory requirement of an OC to get new connections.

This was a long pending demand from the real estate businessmen as well as the industrial sector. For many years now, several petitions have been submitted to the energy department for changing the rule. In March this year, the energy department forwarded the request to the KERC to change the same.

The KERC had asked the public to submit their opinion regarding amending the compulsory requirement for OC by May 30. The commission will hold a discussion on the opinions received and will issue an order to this effect soon.

Energy Minister Sunil Kumar V said that the process for amending the rule is in its final stages and is expected to be notified in another 15 days.

Srinath Bhandari, of the Association of Small Scale Industries, said the amendment to the rule will not only help the industrial sector but also the common man also. Now, for any small change to the building, a new OC has to be produced, he said. Former chief of Credai DB Mehta said the real estate sector will greatly benefit if the rule is amended.