PSERC Proposes New Digital Filing And Petition Rules Under 9th Amendment Regulations 2026 In Punjab

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to its Conduct of Business Regulations through the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (Conduct of Business) (9th Amendment) Regulations, 2026. The draft has been issued under Section 181 of the Electricity Act, 2003, and seeks to update the existing regulations that were originally notified in 2005 and amended eight times over the years. The new provisions will come into force from the date of their publication in the official gazette of the state.

One of the key changes proposed in the amendment is the modernization of filing procedures for petitions, review petitions, and Interlocutory Applications (IAs). Under the revised Regulation 10(4), petitioners will be required to submit seven hard copies of their petitions or any other number specified by the Commission. In addition to physical copies, soft copies must also be sent through email to the Commission’s official email address.

The Commission has specified that the main petition should be submitted in MS Word format, while annexures must be provided in PDF format. Any supporting data submitted through spreadsheets must remain in MS Excel format. Proof of payment of applicable fees must also be sent digitally to the designated email address, reflecting the Commission’s move toward greater digital compliance and efficiency.

The amendment also introduces a new sub-regulation, 10(1)(A), which lays down detailed formatting and presentation requirements for all filings. According to the draft, pleadings, applications, and annexures must be typed on both sides of legal-size paper of at least 80 GSM quality. Documents must use Arial or Times New Roman font in size 14 with double line spacing. Specific margin requirements have also been prescribed, including 1.25-inch margins on the top, left, and right sides and a 0.75-inch margin at the bottom. Page numbers must be placed at the top center of each page.

The proposed regulations further require every petition to contain a complete index, a synopsis of facts arranged chronologically, a list of dates and events, and a detailed calculation of the applicable fee. Petitioners must clearly state any jurisdictional issues involved in the matter and outline the legal grounds being relied upon. In cases where a petition is filed after the prescribed time limit, reasons for the delay must be clearly explained. Any accompanying Interlocutory Application must also be prominently indicated in the filing.

To ensure transparency and fairness, the Commission has proposed that all persons likely to be affected by the outcome of a case should be included as parties or respondents. Where interim relief is sought, petitioners are generally required to provide copies of the petition and supporting documents to the opposite parties before filing. If interim relief is granted before such service, the petitioner must immediately supply the relevant documents along with the order.

The draft amendment also introduces Regulation 12(2A) concerning the service of notices. Under the proposed rule, notices sent through registered post or to the email address provided by a petitioner without legal representation will be considered duly served. In cases where a legal counsel has been appointed, service upon the counsel will be treated as sufficient. The amendment further requires petitioners to file an IA and pay the prescribed fee whenever there is a change in their address, ensuring that Commission records remain updated.