The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has notified the Second Amendment to the Electricity Supply Code and Connected Matters Regulations, 2025, introducing significant changes to the rules governing the recovery of dues from permanently disconnected consumers, timelines for the restoration of supply, and connection charges for loads up to 150 kW.

The amended regulations apply to all distribution licensees (including deemed licensees) and consumers across the state.

The Commission has mandated stricter procedural safeguards before recovery of dues and has rationalized connection charges based on distance from the existing three-phase Low Tension (LT) network, while also clarifying when consumers will be treated as ‘new applicants’ after prolonged disconnection

Background

The amendments modify provisions of the RERC (Electricity Supply Code and Connected Matters) Regulations, 2021, framed under Sections 43 to 48, 50, 55, 56, and 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Supply Code governs the release, disconnection, restoration, and charging of electricity connections across consumer categories, including domestic, non-domestic, agricultural, and industrial users.

One of the key issues addressed by the amendment concerns the recovery of outstanding dues for permanently disconnected connections.

Another area requiring regulatory clarity was the time period within which consumers can seek restoration of supply, after which connections are deemed permanently disconnected and treated as fresh applications.

Additionally, the Commission revised Schedule I of the Supply Code to introduce a new category of standardized connection charges (Schedule-I, 2A) for applicants located within a defined distance of an existing 24-hour three-phase LT network, differentiated by consumer category and load size.

Recovery of Dues

RERC amended Regulation 11.7(d) to require that outstanding dues of a permanently disconnected connection can be recovered from another existing or new connection of the same owner or occupier only after issuing a 30-day notice.

Distribution licensees must provide consumers with an opportunity for a personal hearing.

Time Limits Under the revised Regulation 11.8(b), applications for restoration of supply will be considered:

• Within two years from disconnection for HT/EHT consumers
• Within five years for all other consumers

After expiry of these periods, the connection will be treated as disconnected, and any further request for supply at the same premises will require a fresh application.

Connection charges up to a load of 150 kW would apply to domestic and non-domestic applicants whose premises fall within 300 meters of an available 24-hour supply three-phase LT network, and to industrial and mixed-load applicants whose premises fall within 200 meters of an available 24-hour supply three-phase LT network.

Other Points

Where installation of an 11 kV oil switch is required under the rules, the equipment will be provided by the applicant. In such cases, the applicable charges will be ₹24,000 (~$262.69) instead of ₹90,000 (~$985.11) and ₹34,000 (~$372.15) instead of ₹100,000 (~$1,094) for domestic and non-domestic (DS/NDS) connections with contract demand exceeding 50 kVA.

The Right-of-Way (RoW) for laying LT or HT cables and for the erection of DP sets will be arranged by the applicant.

Domestic and non-domestic premises located beyond 300 metres, and industrial or mixed-load premises located beyond 200 metres, from an existing 24-hour three-phase LT network will be released only after recovery of charges in accordance with the RERC Electricity Supply Code Regulations, 2021.

Connections with a load exceeding 150 kW will also be governed by the applicable provisions of the Supply Code.

These provisions will not apply to premises located in developer-developed colonies or plotted developments where pro rata charges are recovered under Regulation 7.6, to multi-storey buildings where electrification is mandatory under Regulation 7.5(i), or to private industrial areas where electrification or pro rata charges are already applicable under the regulations.

Where the connected load exceeds 112 kW or the contract demand exceeds 50 kVA, industrial connections will be released on the HT supply.

For all other consumer categories, connections with contract demand above 50 kVA will also be released on the HT supply.

Connections in multi-storey buildings in electrified areas with an estimated design demand exceeding 50 kVA, as well as cases of flatted developments requiring multiple connections, will be governed by the applicable provisions of the RERC Supply Code.

Recently, RERC issued the draft RERC (Demand Flexibility/Demand Side Management) Regulations, 2026, proposing a comprehensive regulatory framework to integrate demand-side resources into the state’s power system.

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