Government of West Bengal has set up an independent State Electricity Regulatory Commission under the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998.

(i) At present the Commission is to discharge the  functions as given under Section 22(1) of the Electricity Regulatory Commission Act, 1998., No. 14 of 1998. These are;

a) to determine the tariff for electricity, wholesale, bulk,  grid or retail, as the case may be,  in the manner provided in Section 29,

b) to determine the tariff payable for  the use of the transmission facilities in the manner provided in Section 29,

c) to regulate power purchase and procurement process of the transmission utilities and distribution utilities including the price at which the power shall be procured from the generating  companies, generating stations or from other sources for transmission, sale, distribution and supply in the State,

d) to promote competition,  efficiency and  economy in the activities  or the   electricity industry   to achieve the objects and purposes  of this  Act.

ii)   The Commission  has been empowered to issue transmission licence under the Electricity Laws Amendment Act, 1998.  This is subject to the  condition   that the applicant has to first obtain approval from State  Transmission Utility.

iii)   The State Government may,  by notification,  confer  upon   the  Commission the functions given under  Section 22(2) of the ERC Act,   from  time to time.   The Commission has requested the State Govt.   to confer  upon the Commission the following functions under Section 22(2);

a) u/s   22(2)g - to set standards for the electricity industry in the state including standards relating to quality, continuity and reliability of service.

b) u/s   22(2)k - to collect and record information concerning generation,  transmission, distribution and utilities of electricity.

c) u/s   22(2)p - to aid and  advise the State Government on any other matter referred to the   State Commission by such Government.

The Commission  published  the West  Bengal   Electricity Regulatory Commission  (conduct  of   Business Regulation)  2000  vide   Notification  No. 1/WBERC  dt. 3.2.2000.  For details   Commission may be contacted.

Tariff filling guidelines are likely to be issued shortly by the Commission.

(a)   The Commission has recently taken on rent,   office space in  Salt Lake in Pour Bhavan (new Administrative Building) of  Bidhannagar Municipality,    measuring about 10,000 sq. ft.  The interior designing and furnishing work is likely to start soon and   once the office  shifts  to  its   new  location,  the same  will be  informed on the Web.

b) The manning  pattern off the Commission is under consideration of the Government.

Important  telephone numbers in the Commission are ;

Present  Office address of the Commission is ,

                                         West Bengal Electricity Regulatory  Commission
                                          Flat No.  B-5/2 & 3, Block - LA, Sector - III
                                          Bidhannagar,   Calcutta - 700 098