Framework soon for electricity consumers to choose service provider

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that the government will soon put in place a framework to allow electricity consumers choose service providers or discoms.

At present, a large number of power distribution utilities (discoms) across the country are State-owned. They are unable to ensure 24-hour 'power for all' as envisaged by the central government because they are cash strapped. "Discoms are monopolies.

There is a need to provide a choice to customers to choose service provider (distribution company). A framework will be put in place to provide an alternative," said Sitharaman in her Budget speech in the Lok Sabha.