RTI for JVVNL / AVVNL / JDVVNL — Electricity Bill, Connection and Meter Complaints in Rajasthan

Rajasthan is one of the few Indian states with three separate electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) dividing the state among themselves — each a distinct public authority with its own SPIO structure, its own Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum, and its own network of Division and Circle Offices. When your bill shows unexpected charges, your new connection application stalls without explanation, or a transformer failure leaves your neighbourhood without power for days, the Right to Information Act, 2005 gives you a direct legal tool: the right to inspect the records that reveal what actually happened, who is responsible, and what the prescribed timelines were. This guide explains how to use that right effectively with all three Rajasthan DISCOMs.

Rajasthan's Electricity Distribution Structure

Electricity in Rajasthan is distributed under the administrative oversight of the Energy Department, Government of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) — an independent statutory regulator established under the Electricity Act, 2003 — sets tariff orders, quality-of-supply norms, and consumer protection regulations that all three DISCOMs must follow.

The three DISCOMs, each incorporated as a Government of Rajasthan company, are:

• JVVNL — Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited
• AVVNL — Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited
• JDVVNL — Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited

All three are public authorities within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, because they are substantially financed and controlled by the State Government of Rajasthan. RTI applications filed with any of them are governed by the Rajasthan Right to Information Act framework, with second appeals going to the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) — not the Central Information Commission (CIC).

The Three DISCOMs — Which Covers Your Area?

Understanding which DISCOM covers your district is the first step before filing. The name of your DISCOM is printed on your electricity bill header; if you have misplaced your bill, each DISCOM's website lists its service territory.

JVVNL (Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited)
Website: jvvnl.in | Head Office: Janpath, Jaipur
Service area: Eastern Rajasthan — Jaipur, Kota, Bharatpur, Alwar, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Bundi, Baran, and Jhalawar districts. JVVNL is the largest of the three DISCOMs by consumer numbers, covering the state capital and the heavily industrialised and agricultural belts of eastern Rajasthan.

AVVNL (Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited)
Website: avvnl.com | Head Office: Ajmer
Service area: Central and northern Rajasthan — Ajmer, Bikaner, Sikar, Nagaur, Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jhunjhunu, Bhilwara, Pali (parts), and Tonk districts. AVVNL covers much of the agriculturally intensive northern belt and the historic cities of Ajmer and Bikaner.

JDVVNL (Jodhpur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited)
Website: jdvvnl.com | Head Office: Jodhpur
Service area: Western and southern Rajasthan — Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Sirohi, Udaipur, Rajsamand, Dungarpur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, and Pratapgarh districts. JDVVNL covers the vast Thar Desert belt and the tribal southern districts, a geographically challenging service territory.

What RTI Can Help You Get

An RTI application with the relevant DISCOM does not by itself fix your electricity problem, but it compels the company to put in writing the records that reveal the facts. This documented basis is essential for every effective complaint — whether at the DISCOM's Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF), before the RERC Electricity Ombudsman, or before the RSIC. Specifically, RTI to JVVNL, AVVNL, or JDVVNL can help you:

• Verify the basis of a disputed electricity bill — obtain the actual meter reading date and value, and confirm whether the reading was physical or estimated
• Establish whether estimated or average billing was used — find out for how many consecutive cycles the DISCOM generated bills without a physical meter reading
• Obtain a meter accuracy test history — confirm whether your meter has been tested, the result, and the consumer's right to request a formal meter test under RERC norms
• Track a transformer repair timeline — find out when the fault was reported, when the repair was sanctioned, which officer is responsible, and whether JDVVNL/JVVNL/AVVNL's own restoration norms have been breached
• Monitor the progress of a new connection application — know the exact processing stage, the responsible officer, and the RERC-mandated maximum timeline for releasing the connection
• Obtain supply outage frequency and duration data — get records of unplanned interruptions on your feeder during a given period, along with causes and restoration times
• Examine how a consumer complaint was resolved — find out how a helpline or office grievance was handled, whether it was closed, and who was responsible

Where to File: The Right Authority

Within each DISCOM, RTI applications can be filed at three levels:

Division Office SPIO (Executive Engineer): Each Electrical Division has a designated SPIO (typically the Executive Engineer or an officer designated by the Managing Director under Section 5 of the RTI Act). For queries about a specific transformer, a local feeder's outage history, billing records for your consumer account, or a new connection application submitted at the sub-divisional office, filing at Division level typically produces a faster and more targeted response. Your electricity bill shows the name of your Division or Sub-Division office.

Circle Office SPIO (Superintending Engineer): Each DISCOM has several Circle Offices that supervise multiple Divisions. If your query spans multiple Divisions, or if you are unsure which Division to approach, the Circle Office SPIO is a suitable point of filing.

Head Office SPIO (Managing Director's Office): The JVVNL Head Office (Janpath, Jaipur), AVVNL Head Office (Ajmer), or JDVVNL Head Office (Jodhpur) is always a safe option if you are uncertain about which field office holds the relevant records. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, if you file at the Head Office and the records are held at divisional level, the Head Office SPIO must transfer your application to the correct officer within five days and notify you.

First Appellate Authority: A senior officer within the same DISCOM, designated for this purpose. File here if the SPIO does not respond or gives an unsatisfactory response.

Second Appeal: All three DISCOMs are Rajasthan State Government bodies. Second appeals go to the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act — not to the CIC. The CIC has no jurisdiction over state government public authorities.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify Your DISCOM and Gather Reference Details

Before writing the application, collect the following from your electricity bill, DISCOM receipt, or complaint acknowledgment:

• Your consumer account number (also called service connection number) and meter number — printed on every bill
• The DISCOM name — JVVNL, AVVNL, or JDVVNL — as shown on your bill header
• The billing cycle in dispute (month and year)
• The complaint or grievance reference number if you have already contacted the 1800 helpline or visited an office
• Your new connection application reference number (if asking about connection status)
• The date and locality of the transformer fault or supply disruption (if asking about repair or outage records)
• The name of your Sub-Division or Division Office — identifiable from the bill header

Step 2: Draft Your Application Under Section 6

Use the sample RTI draft on this page as a template. Include only the questions relevant to your situation. Keep the language factual and specific — name the consumer account number, the billing period, the meter number, or the exact locality and feeder. Under Section 6(2) of the RTI Act, you are not required to give any reason for seeking the information.

Write an RTI, not a complaint. Ask for records, dates, names of responsible officers, and applicable norms. The information you receive becomes the basis for a separate, well-documented complaint or appeal.

Step 3: File Online or by Post

Online: Visit rti.rajasthan.gov.in, the official RTI portal of the Government of Rajasthan. Register or log in, select the relevant DISCOM (JVVNL, AVVNL, or JDVVNL) as the public authority, complete the application form, upload your draft, and pay the ₹10 fee online. Save the acknowledgment number for tracking.

By post or in person: Submit a physical application to the SPIO at the relevant Division Office or Head Office, enclosing a ₹10 Indian Postal Order (IPO) drawn in favour of the "Accounts Officer, JVVNL / AVVNL / JDVVNL" (verify the exact payee name at the office or portal). Keep the postal receipt and acknowledgment. BPL cardholders are fully exempt from the ₹10 fee under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act; attach a self-attested copy of your BPL ration card when submitting.

Step 4: Track Your Application

The DISCOM must respond within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If the information concerns life or liberty — for example, a prolonged outage affecting a patient dependent on home medical equipment — the response is due within 48 hours under the proviso to Section 7(1). Track online applications through the Rajasthan RTI portal using your registration number.

Step 5: Appeal If Needed

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the DISCOM SPIO does not respond within 30 days, or if the response is incomplete or evasive, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within the DISCOM. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is payable. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days).

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)): If the FAA's decision is unsatisfactory or the FAA does not respond, file a Second Appeal with the Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's decision period. Under Section 20 of the RTI Act, the RSIC can impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the SPIO personally and may recommend disciplinary action.

Detailed Information You Can Request

Billing Records and Meter Readings

1. The actual meter reading recorded at consumer account no. XXX for each billing cycle in the last twelve months — the date of reading, the reading value (kWh), and whether each reading was physical or estimated
2. The basis for any estimated or average bill — the RERC order or internal DISCOM instruction under which estimation was applied, and the number of consecutive cycles billed without a physical reading
3. A complete bill computation for the disputed cycle — energy charges, fixed charges, fuel surcharge, electricity duty, rural electrification cess, late payment surcharge, arrears, and any other levy — with the RERC tariff order number and rate schedule for each component
4. The tariff category (domestic, commercial, agricultural, industrial, BPL, etc.) under which the consumer account is currently classified, and whether that classification was verified or changed in the last two years

Meter Testing and Accuracy

1. The date of installation of the meter bearing Meter No. XXX at the above premises, and the date and result of the last accuracy test conducted by the DISCOM, including the percentage error recorded
2. The RERC-prescribed or DISCOM-prescribed interval for mandatory meter accuracy testing, and whether that interval has been exceeded for the above meter
3. The procedure under which a consumer can formally request a meter accuracy test, the authority competent to sanction it, and the maximum time prescribed for the DISCOM to conduct and report on the test
4. Whether a meter replacement or calibration has been sanctioned for this consumer account — if yes, the date of sanction and the expected execution date

Transformer Repair and Supply Restoration

1. The date on which the DISCOM received the fault report for the distribution transformer serving locality / feeder name, the reference number assigned, and the officer to whom the fault was assigned
2. The date of site inspection, the fault diagnosis recorded, and the date on which a work order or indent was raised for repair or replacement
3. The RERC-prescribed or DISCOM standard restoration timeline for a distribution transformer fault in an urban or rural area (as applicable), and whether that timeline was met — if not, the reason for the delay
4. The current status — date of restoration (if completed), or expected completion date and current stage of work (if still pending)

New Electricity Connection

1. The date on which new electricity connection application no. XXX was received at Sub-Division / Division Office, Location and the acknowledgment issued
2. The current processing stage and the specific reason for any delay beyond the RERC-prescribed or DISCOM-prescribed timeline for releasing a new connection
3. The name and designation of the officer currently responsible for the application
4. The RERC or DISCOM maximum prescribed timeline for provisioning a new domestic / commercial / agricultural connection from the date of a complete application

Consumer Complaints and Grievance Records

1. A copy of the action-taken report or resolution note for complaint reference XXX lodged on DD/MM/YYYY
2. The name and designation of the officer to whom the complaint was assigned and the date of assignment
3. Whether the complaint was closed — if yes, the basis on which it was recorded as resolved; if not, the current status and pending action required
4. Whether the matter was referred to the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF) and, if so, the CGRF hearing outcome

Parallel Remedies Alongside RTI

RTI and the consumer protection mechanisms below are complementary — using both together produces the best outcomes:

Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF): Each DISCOM has a CGRF — a quasi-judicial forum constituted under RERC regulations. Consumers can approach the CGRF for billing disputes, connection delays, metering complaints, and service quality issues. An RTI response documenting the DISCOM's own records strengthens a CGRF complaint considerably.

RERC Electricity Ombudsman: If the CGRF does not resolve your grievance satisfactorily, you can escalate to the RERC-appointed Electricity Ombudsman for Rajasthan. The Ombudsman can direct the DISCOM to correct bills, pay compensation, and restore services.

Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC): The RERC, headquartered in Jaipur, is the independent statutory regulator for the Rajasthan electricity sector. Consumers can approach the RERC directly for systemic complaints involving tariff violations, non-compliance with supply codes, or broader service quality failures. Note that RERC is a separate public authority — RTI applications to RERC about DISCOM compliance data (such as aggregate CGRF pendency figures or DISCOM supply quality reports) go to the RERC's own SPIO, not to the DISCOM's.

Consumer Forum / NCDRC: Consumers facing financial loss due to deficient electricity service can also approach the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. A documented paper trail from RTI responses is strong evidence before the consumer forum.

Rajasthan State Information Commission (RSIC): For RTI non-compliance specifically — if the DISCOM SPIO ignores your application or the First Appellate Authority gives no relief — the RSIC is the appropriate authority for a second appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. The RSIC is established under Section 15 of the RTI Act for Rajasthan State Government bodies and has the authority to impose penalties on the SPIO under Section 20, direct the DISCOM to furnish information, and recommend disciplinary proceedings.