My electricity bill is very high and I suspect the meter was not read. Can RTI help?

Yes. File an RTI with your discom (BSES or Tata Power, as applicable) asking for the actual meter reading recorded for the billing period, the date of meter reading, the rate category applied, and whether any portion of the bill is based on estimated or average consumption. DERC regulations govern when estimated billing is permissible. The RTI response gives you the written basis to formally dispute the bill through the discom's consumer grievance mechanism or approach the DERC Electricity Ombudsman.

How do I know which discom serves my area in Delhi?

Delhi is divided among three discoms based on area: BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL) serves South and West Delhi; BSES Yamuna Power Ltd. (BYPL) serves East and Central Delhi; Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. (TPDDL) serves North and North-West Delhi. Your consumer account number and the name on your electricity bill will confirm your discom. You can also check DERC's website. For RTI purposes, file with your discom for operational matters, and with DERC for regulatory queries.

Can I file RTI with DERC about the tariff order and rate revisions?

Yes. DERC issues annual tariff orders setting electricity rates for all consumer categories in Delhi. DERC is required to publish these under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act. You can file an RTI with DERC asking for the current tariff order, the rates applicable to your consumer category, any approved surcharges or levies, and the basis for the latest rate revision. This helps you verify whether your bill is computed at the correct rate.

What if DERC or the discom does not respond within 30 days?

File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at DERC or the relevant discom within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. If unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal with the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days. DERC is a Delhi State body, so second appeals go to the DIC. Note: for urgent billing complaints, also use DERC's dedicated Electricity Ombudsman mechanism under the DERC Electricity Supply Code.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI with DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) — Billing Disputes, Power Outages

Delhi State

How to File RTI with DERC (Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission) — Billing Disputes, Power Outages

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI application with DERC or Delhi discoms (BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna, Tata Power Delhi) for electricity billing disputes, new connection delays, frequent power outages, and tariff queries. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryGovernment of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD)

Address RTI ToPublic Information Officer (PIO), DERC OR PIO, relevant Discom

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rti.delhi.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) is a statutory body established under the Electricity Act, 2003, to regulate electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and supply in Delhi. DERC issues tariff orders, sets service standards, and licenses Delhi's three distribution companies (discoms): BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. (BRPL), BSES Yamuna Power Ltd. (BYPL), and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd. (TPDDL).

DERC is a public authority under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005. The Central Information Commission (CIC) has also held that Delhi discoms, being licensed and regulated by DERC under the Electricity Act, 2003, are public authorities under the RTI Act — meaning consumers can file RTI against the discoms directly for billing and service information.

What Can You Achieve with an RTI to DERC or Delhi Discoms?

Get the actual meter reading and rate category used for a disputed electricity bill
Know whether estimated or average billing was applied and the applicable DERC regulation
Track the status of a new electricity connection application and standard timeline
Get the action taken on a power outage complaint with the officer responsible
Obtain DERC's current tariff order and rates applicable to your consumer category
Know whether meter testing was conducted and the result, or demand a test per DERC norms
Get information about approved outage schedules and maintenance work in your area

Where to File: The Right Authority

Choose based on your query:

Query	File with
Billing dispute, new connection, outage complaint	PIO, your Discom (BRPL / BYPL / TPDDL)
Tariff order, regulatory norms, consumer rights	PIO, DERC
Discom performance, service standard violations	PIO, DERC

Which discom serves your area?

BSES Rajdhani (BRPL): South Delhi and West Delhi
BSES Yamuna (BYPL): East Delhi and Central Delhi
Tata Power Delhi (TPDDL): North Delhi and North-West Delhi

On the Delhi RTI portal at rti.delhi.gov.in, select: DERC or the relevant discom.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Gather Your Details

Your consumer account number (CA No.) and meter number (from the electricity bill)
The billing period in dispute and the bill date
Your complaint reference number if already registered with the discom helpline
The application reference number for new connection requests

Step 2: Draft Your Application

Ask specifically about the meter reading date, rate category, and estimated billing basis for billing queries. For new connections, ask about the standard timeline per DERC norms. The sample draft covers all scenarios.

Step 3: File Online

File at rti.delhi.gov.in under DERC or the relevant discom, and pay ₹10 online. You may also submit in person at the discom's divisional office.

Step 4: Appeals

If there is no response within 30 days, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority at DERC or the discom within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day period, whichever is applicable. For a Second Appeal, approach the Delhi Information Commission (DIC) under Section 19(3) within 90 days.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Billing dispute:

Meter reading recorded for CA No. XXX for billing cycle Month/Year — date of reading and actual reading
Rate category applied and applicable DERC tariff order / notification
Whether estimated billing was applied — if yes, the number of consecutive estimated billing cycles and the applicable DERC regulation

Meter testing:

Whether Meter No. XXX has been tested — date, result, and percentage error (if any)
DERC regulation governing the timeline for meter testing on consumer request

New connection:

Date of receipt of connection application Ref. No. and current processing stage
Officer responsible and DERC standard timeline (as per DERC Supply Code) for issuing new connections in the area

Outage complaint:

Action taken on complaint Ref. No. — fault identified, restoration timeline, and officer assigned
Number and total duration of outages in area/feeder in the last N months, and comparison with DERC supply reliability norms

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[DERC / BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd. / BSES Yamuna Power Ltd. / Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.]
[Address]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — Electricity Bill Dispute / New Connection / Power Outage Complaint

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Your Full Address], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information:

Consumer / Application details:
  CA No. / Consumer No.: [Consumer Account Number]
  Meter No.: [Meter Number]
  Address of supply: [Supply Address]
  Billing cycle (for billing queries): [Month/Year]
  Application Ref. No. (for new connection): [Reference Number]
  Complaint Ref. No. (if any): [Complaint Number]

Information sought:

1. [For billing dispute] The basis of electricity bill issued for CA No. [XXX] for the billing cycle [Month/Year] — the meter reading recorded on [date of reading], the rate category (domestic/commercial/industrial) applied, and any arrears included. If the meter was not read and consumption was estimated or averaged, the basis and applicable DERC regulation under which estimated billing was applied.

2. [For meter fault / inaccurate reading] Whether the meter at [address] bearing Meter No. [XXX] has been tested for accuracy — if yes, the date and result of the test; if not, the reason. Also, the DERC regulations governing meter testing timelines upon consumer request.

3. [For new connection] The current status of my new electricity connection application bearing reference number [XXX] submitted on [DD/MM/YYYY], the stage at which it is pending, the officer responsible, and the DERC standard timeline for issuing new connections.

4. [For power outage complaint] The action taken on my outage complaint bearing reference [XXX] lodged on [DD/MM/YYYY] regarding [describe: frequent tripping, prolonged outage, transformer failure] at [address/area], and the present status of restoration or repair.

5. The name and designation of the officer responsible for the above matter.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref]].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

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