"Accepting money in advance but not delivering electricity..."
AMPCA warns MSPDCL of class action lawsuit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 26 2026: The All Manipur Power Consumers' Association (AMPCA) has strongly condemned erratic power supply and unannounced daily load-shedding being executed across Manipur by the Manipur State Power Distribution Company Limited (MSPDCL).

"Accepting money in advance through prepaid meters and failing to deliver electricity constitutes a severe "Deficiency of Service" and an "Unfair Trade Practice" under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019," said the association, warning the MSPDCL of a class-action lawsuit.

Most consumers have embraced the prepaid metering system for more than a decade and are diligently paying for electricity supply weeks and months in advance.

Yet, despite this continuous guaranteed upfront cash flow, the public is being forced to live in the dark under daily unscheduled and unannounced load-shedding, said the association in a statement.

The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General has exposed a staggering reality that the MSPDCL has accumulated a colossal Rs 691.09 crore in outstanding dues.

However, this massive deficit is a direct result of gross "internal mismanagement," it said.

While the power supply of honest consumers are automatically cut off once their crediVprepaid balance hits or falls below zero, the MSPDCL has routinely failed to check or disconnect massive postpaid, commercial, and Government Department defaulters who owe vast sums of money.

Compounding this failure is a total informational blackout, it said.

The MSPDCL has failed to publish monthly, districtwise power supply schedules or bill collection data.

Consequently, honest and advance-paying consumers in districts are being penalised with arbitrary blackouts to subsidise the uncollected debts of unmetered and high-level defaulters elsewhere, said the association.

The AMPCA further reminded the MSPDCL that the severe erratic power supply is a flagrant violation of both Central and State laws.

Under Rule 3(1) of the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020, it is the strict statutory duty of the distribution licensee to supply electricity on a 24x7 basis to all consumers.

Furthermore, Rule 14 explicitly mandates that when a utility fails to maintain these Standards of Performance, it is legally obligated to pay financial compensation directly to the affected consumers, it said.

"Accepting money in advance through prepaid meters and failing to deliver electricity constitutes a severe "Deficiency of Service" and an "Unfair Trade Practice" under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019," it said.

If the MSPDCL fails to comply with its legal obligations, AMPCA and consumers will be compelled to launch a Statewide, collective class-action lawsuit under Section 142 of the Electricity Act, 2003 for non- compliance.

This will expose negligent officials to compounding daily fines and potential imprisonment under Section 146.Law-abiding advance-paying consumers will no longer quietly finance MSPDCL's institutional incompetence, it added.

Comment