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Village Hydro
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Consumer
Protection for Village Hydro / Wind / Biomass Schemes
The AU maintains a Consumer Protection Facility for off-grid community
based rural electrification schemes set up under the RERED Project.
This facility provides for the maintenance of sound technical standards,
project preparation assistance through independent Developers and
complaint investigation and resolution. The measures adopted by the
AU include the following:
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All village hydro/wind/biomass schemes
are required to conform to the applicable Village Hydro/Wind/Biomass
Specifications. These specifications are designed to ensure
that the scheme meets applicable standards for reliability,
longevity and safety. Where specifications are under development
(wind and biomass), the AU reviews the technical standards of
individual subprojects on a case-by-case basis. |
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The Developer (Project Preparation Consultant)
is required to educate the Electricity Consumer Society (ECS)
on realistic expectations and train members of the ECS on the
operation, maintenance, trouble shooting and management of the
scheme. The Developer is required to work closely with the ECS
throughout the technical and socio-economic planning stages
of the scheme including those of design, procurement, construction,
installation and commissioning. |
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The RERED Project maintains a panel of Chartered
Engineers who verify the technical integrity of the scheme at
both the design stage (prior to loan approval) and installation
stage (at commissioning). The cost of this service is borne
by the RERED Project. In the case of village hydro schemes,
the Chartered Engineer also verifies that the ECS has received
and understood the contents of the publication ‘Village
Hydros – Key Facts’ prepared and distributed by
the AU. |
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On successful installation verification, the
Chartered Engineer provides the ECS with the Complaint
Registration Form. The form is used by the ECS to
inform the Developer of any problem that the ECS is unable to
resolve. If the issue is not resolved the ECS may then notify
the PCI or AU, who will then appoint an independent Consultant
to visit the ECS at the project site (with the Developer) to
investigate and report. The AU then takes appropriate remedial
action. |
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The AU participates in meetings convened by Provincial
Councils and convenes the Village Hydro Working Group on a regular
basis to discuss issues and refine and/or include appropriate
measures to safeguard the interests of ECSs while identifying
and providing technical assistance to related stakeholders such
as developers and suppliers. |
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