Electricity complaint in West Bengal: where to go
In West Bengal, WBSEDCL supplies most areas, and CESC supplies Kolkata. Complain to your supplier, then to its Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO), and then to the WBERC Ombudsman.
- 3 steps: discom, forum, Ombudsman
- Official numbers and addresses
- Checked 16 October 2026
Contact WBSEDCL
- WBSEDCL 24x7 helpline: 19121
- WBERC Ombudsman: (033) 2962 3752, wbercombudsman2012@gmail.com, ombudsman2-wberc@gov.in
The steps, in order
Complain to WBSEDCL
- Call the WBSEDCL helpline 19121.
- Write down your complaint number.
Go to the Grievance Redressal Officer
- In West Bengal, the forum is a Grievance Redressal Officer (GRO) of your supplier.
- Ask your supplier for the address of your GRO.
- We read the GRO rules from a scanned copy. See the notes below.
Appeal to the Ombudsman
- Appeal within 20 working days of the GRO or Central GRO order.
- If the GRO does not decide in time, count the 20 working days from the end of its time limit.
- The Ombudsman can accept a late appeal.
- File the appeal in duplicate.
- Send it to the Ombudsman, WBERC, Plot AH/5 (2nd Floor), Action Area-1A, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata 700163.
Compensation you can get
| If the discom fails to… | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Meter complaints and other standards not met in time | Rs 500 for each additional day or slab |
| Late reconnection beyond the Supply Code limit | Rs 500 for each additional day |
You must claim compensation by an application to the Grievance Redressal Officer (WBERC Standards of Performance Regulations, 2010, Reg 14).
If you think the meter is wrong
- Report the faulty meter to your supplier.
- In urban areas, the supplier tests and replaces a faulty meter within 10 working days of inspection.
- The national rules also require a test within 30 days of your complaint.
What we could not confirm
- We read WBERC Regulation 56 of 2013 from a scanned copy. It says you file a written petition in three copies within 90 days.
- The same copy says the GRO decides within 40 working days, or 60 if it needs testing or consultation.
- The same scanned copy says you pay no fee to the Ombudsman.
- We read the Rs 500 a day rate for late new connections from a garbled PDF. Check it in the gazette.
- The WBERC Standards of Performance date from 2010, before the 2020 national rules. We found no newer West Bengal compensation regulation.
- We did not find the meter testing fee.
- We did not check the CESC and other supplier helplines.
Questions
What is a GRO?
A Grievance Redressal Officer is the officer of your supplier who hears grievances. In West Bengal, the GROs form the forum.
How long do I have to appeal to the Ombudsman?
Normally 20 working days from the GRO order. The Ombudsman can accept a late appeal.
Is compensation automatic in West Bengal?
No. You apply to the Grievance Redressal Officer to claim it.
Can my supplier cut my supply while I dispute a bill?
Not if you pay under protest. Pay the amount claimed or your average monthly charge for the last six months, whichever is less (Electricity Act s.56(1)).
Sources
- WBSEDCL home page (19121)
- WBERC Ombudsman Contact Us
- WBERC (Forum and Ombudsman) (First Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 68), Reg 10.4.2
- WBERC Regulation 56 of 2013, Forum and Ombudsman (scanned), Reg 3.3, 6, 7.2
- WBERC Standards of Performance Regulations, 2010 (No. 46), Reg 11.1, 14, 15
Read on 16 October 2026. Phone numbers and addresses change: check the official page before you send a letter.
ebbillcalc is not part of any discom or regulator. The regulations and your discom have the final word.