MR. BIBEKANANDA DAS, MEMBER:-
Complainant has filed C.C.Case No. 48/2023 U/s-35 of C.P.Act seeking following relief:
“ Hon’ble Court may graciously be pleased to admit the complaint case issue notice to the Opp. Parties to remove/correct the wrong electric bills issued since Jan-2022 to till date & reconnect the power supply & install a new meter to the complainant’s house premises and pay Rs. 50,000/- towards the compensation in favour of complainant for deficiency in service and the mental agony.
Brief fact of case of Complainant is that-
Ops installed electric connection with digital meter on 20th April-2021 which operated correctly for a period of 8 months. During the said period the actual consumed electric bill to an amount of Rs.200/-, 250/- & 300/- etc came till the month of December-2021.The petitioner paid the bill and obtained the receipts thereof. Thereafter all of a sudden for the month of Feb-2022 the electric bill came to an amount of Rs16222 The complainant became astonished and reported the matter on writing to the Ops regarding illegal and defective reading bill in the name of the consumer/complainant. The Ops admitted the issue of wrong bill and assured the complainant for correction of bill on the next month, but did not make any correction of the said wrong bill. As a result of which wrong bill came to an amount of Rs. 43756/- till 17.01.2023.
The Complainant many a times run to the office of the Ops requested then for correction of wrong bill issued against the complainant but the Ops did not take any note of it and turned a deaf ear to the said request of the complainant in the aforesaid mater. The Complainant also gave representation to the said authority on dtd.29.09.2022 and 30.09.2022 the copy of the representation and postal Regd. receipt have been filed . The Ops did not take notice to the complainants problem, but went on issuing wrong and illegal electric bills. Without replacing the defective meter & not revising the wrong bill.The Ops have appeared and filed only objection in I.A.No. 107/23 but did not file any written version. The contention of the Ops in the written objection is as under.
The Complaint petition is not maintainable before this Commission either in law or infracts.
The power supply is given by the Ops in the name of complainant bearing Consumer No.80025185317 for domestic category.
As per the Ops record there is outstanding (arrear) amount of tune of Rs.52,285/- till the month of May-2023.
The facts as alleged in the complainant petition are hereby denied.
The action of the Ops for disconnection of power supply is within the purview of OERC Rules and regulations also the complaint violate the rule and regulation of OERC(Disconnection service [ Rule 100 (Clause-3) ].
The dispute relates to excess billing from Feb-2022 onwards for which Complainant made representation and approached this Commission. We therefore directed the Ops to install a new meter in the house of the Complainant and on the basis of actual consumptions as per OERC Rules. The bill may be revised and the Complainant shall pay the same within 3 months after revision .After such period the Complainant shall pay the regular bill as per new meter and Rs.2000/- towards arrear dues. The Ops are directed to install a new meter in the house premises of the Complainant within 45 days from the date of issue of this order.,
With the aforesaid observation and direction the C.C.Case No. 48/2023 is allowed & accordingly disposed off.
Issue extract of the order to the parties for compliance.
Pronounced in the open Commission, on this the 23rd day of July ,2024
I, agree
Sd/- Sd/-
PRESIDENT MEMBER
