Former IPS officer named DERC's new ombudsman

Delhi's power regulator DERC has appointed Delhi Police's former Special Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Bhardwaj as its ombudsman to examine grievances of the city's electricity consumers. A 1987-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, Bhardwaj had earlier held several prestigious posts in the central government and had retired as a special commissioner of Delhi Police.

He was administered the oath of office by the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission Chairman Justice (Retd) Shabihul Hasnain earlier this week, said a DERC statement.

Four consumer grievances redressal forum, one each for consumers of discoms BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd, BSES Yamuna Power Ltd, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd and New Delhi Municipal Council have been functioning since 2004. The consumers who are not satisfied with the decision of the CGRF can approach the DERC ombudsman, who acts as an appellate authority over the CGRF, the statement said.