How to complain about a power cut: 1912, DISCOM apps and CPGRAMS
The escalation path that works: 1912 with a docket number, your DISCOM’s app, CPGRAMS for unresolved cases — and the one detail that makes complaints stick.
Quick answer
- Always collect a complaint/docket number — it converts a phone call into a trackable case.
- 1912 is the national electricity complaint short code; each DISCOM also runs its own app and helpline.
- Unresolved after weeks: escalate via CPGRAMS (central) or your state’s consumer grievance forum under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules.
Step 1 — File the complaint where it becomes trackable
Call 1912 (the national electricity complaint short code) or file in your DISCOM’s official app or website — both are listed on your electricity bill. Give the consumer number and the exact location they ask for, then write down the complaint/docket number and the time. A docket number is what turns “someone called” into a case with a clock on it.
Describe the problem precisely: whole area vs one house, repeating pattern (“fails daily at 7 PM”), how long it has lasted. Precise descriptions get routed to the right team — feeder crews, not meter teams.
Step 2 — Escalate if the deadline passes
Electricity supply complaints have response timelines under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules — restoration and grievance timelines are specified by each state commission. If your docket crosses the deadline, call back citing the number, then escalate within the DISCOM’s own grievance channel.
Keep a simple log: dates, times, docket numbers, what was promised. A pattern (“12 docket numbers in 30 days for the same feeder”) is far more effective in escalation than one long complaint.
Step 3 — CPGRAMS and consumer forums
For unresolved cases, file on CPGRAMS (pgportal.gov.in) — centralised public grievance portal, which routes to your state utility with mandatory tracking. State commissions also run Consumer Grievance Redressal Forums (CGRF) and an Electricity Ombudsman above them, created specifically for supply complaints under the Rights of Consumers Rules.
These forums exist for exactly this: supply quality, repeated outages, delayed restoration and billing disputes. The docket log from step 2 is your evidence.
What a crowd-sourced report can and cannot do
Reporting a cut on livepowercut.com tells neighbours they are not alone and builds a public record of the pattern — useful context for a sustained problem. It does not dispatch a repair crew: only the DISCOM’s own docket does that. Use both — community map for visibility, official complaint for action.
Frequently asked questions
What is the phone number for electricity complaints in India?
1912 is the national short code for electricity supply complaints. Availability varies by DISCOM, so keep the complaint number from your electricity bill as a backup, and always note the docket number you are given.
How long should a power cut complaint take to resolve?
State commissions specify restoration timelines — typically within a few hours for simple faults and longer for transformer or cable damage. The exact limits are in your state’s Electricity (Rights of Consumers) code; exceeding them is grounds for escalation to CGRF.
Can I get compensation for repeated power cuts?
Some state commissions provide standards-of-performance compensation for supply failures beyond specified limits, usually as bill adjustments applied through CGRF or the Ombudsman. It requires your docket log — informal calls do not qualify.