BEFORE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, SAHIBZADA AJIT SINGH NAGAR (MOHALI)

                                Consumer Complaint No. 669 of 2015

                                 Date of institution:          12.12..2015

                                            Date of Decision:            25.04.2016

Nirmla Devi wife of Vishav Nath son of Heera Lal, resident of village Sohana, Tehsil and District SAS Nagar, Mohali.

                                        ……..Complainant

                                        Versus

SDO, Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd., Sub Division Mohali, Zirakpur Division, Sohana, District SAS Nagar (Mohali), Punjab.

                                                                 ………. Opposite Party

Complaint under Section 12 of the

Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

CORAM

Mrs. Madhu. P. Singh, President.

Mrs. R.K. Aulakh, Member.

Present:    Complainant in person.

Opposite Party ex-parte.

(Mrs. Madhu P. Singh, President)

ORDER

                The complainant has filed the present complaint seeking following direction to the Opposite Party (for short ‘the OP’) to correct the electricity bills as per the consumption.

                The case of the complainant is that she has purchased the house at village Sohana vide sale deed dated 04.06.2015 from its owner Shri Niwas. The electricity connection was installed at this house on the name of Shri Niwas vide account No.3000316057.  The official of the OP told the complainant in July, 2015 that the current meter reading is 4322 the charges of which were deposited by the complainant.  The complainant was shocked when she obtained the details of the electricity meter which was burnt. The reading for the month of July 2015 was 5015 instead of 4322. The complainant submitted application dated 23.09.2015 to the SDO Sohana of the OP intimating it that the meter had been burnt and requested for replacement of the same.  An employee of the OP came on 24.09.2015 and informed the complainant that the meter would be changed shortly.  Accordingly, demand notice dated 24.09.2015 for replacement of the meter was issued and the complainant deposited a sum of Rs.520/- for the same. The new electricity meter was installed on 25.11.2015.  However, without noting the actual reading, the OP had issued a bill of Rs.8980/- for the meter reading of 6270 units. However, the usual bill of the complainant for two months comes between Rs.1,000/- to Rs.1,200/-. The complainant has not installed any heavy duty motor, engine etc. at her residence.  The complainant enquired from the OP about the bill, but was not given any satisfactory reply by the OP.  Thus, with these allegations the complainant has filed the present complaint.

2.             None appeared on behalf of the OP despite service. After repeated calling, the OP was proceeded against exparte vide order dated  09.02.2016.

3.             To succeed in the complaint, the complainants proved on record her affidavit Ex.CW-1/1 and tendered in evidence copies of documents Ex.C-1 to C-8.

4.             We have heard the complainant and have gone through the pleadings and evidence3.

5.             The complainant is a beneficiary of the electricity connection vide account No.3000316057 in the name of Shri Niwas. The complainant has purchased the house from Shri Niwas vide sale deed dated 04.06.2015 Ex.C-1 and the electricity connection continued to remain in the seller Shri Niwas. The complainant received the electricity consumption bill Ex.C-2 for 4322 units which as per the complainant was on higher side. However, she has paid the amount of Rs.4160/- vide receipt dated 10.08.2015 Ex.C-3. The electricity meter got burnt and the complainant through the account holder moved an application to the OP for change of burnt meter. The officials of the OP after taking the device replacement amount of Rs.520/- has replaced the burnt meter with the new proper and effective meter on 25.11.2015. However during the period when the burnt meter was under replacement, the complainant got another bill dated 24.09.2015 for 6270 units consumption vide Ex.C-8 and was asked to make payment of Rs.8,980/-. As per the complainant before the meter got burnt, the meter was running very fast as it was showing excessive consumption of 4322 units and then 6270 units for the period from 24.09.2015 to 22.11.2015 and the OP has charged excess amount as the consumption shown is not as per the actual consumption. The complainant has been making payment of Rs.1,000/- to Rs.1,200/- per cycle against the actual consumption and there is no change in the electrical set up by the complainant in the premises where the electricity meter is installed. Therefore, the consumption is much more higher. The complainant has approached the OP for rectification of the excessive charged bill but none of the officials of the OP has considered her grievance so far. Therefore, the complainant has filed the present complaint.

6.             In order to prove the meter having been burnt on 23.09.2015 and reinstalled as a fresh and effective meter w.e.f. 25.11.2015, the complaint has proved the same vide Ex.C-1 to C-8. The bill in dispute pertains to the cycle from 24.09.2015 to 22.11.2015 when there was no meter installed at his premises and on what basis the OP has calculated the consumption of 6270 units is not clear from the bare reading of electricity bills. The electricity bills so issued without any supportive evidence is an act of deficiency in service and needs relook by the OP as per electricity Manual. The complainant has been unnecessarily put to litigation for such a small issue which is well within the powers of officials of the OPs as per Electricity Manual. The non redressal of grievance of the complainant is certainly an act oft of deficiency in service on the part of the OP and the complainant has certainly  suffered harassment and mental agony and loss of man-days in pursuing her complaint.  The complaint, therefore, deserves to be allowed and the complainant deserves to be compensated.

7.             The complaint is hereby allowed with the following direction to the OP:

(a)    to withdraw the bill dated 22.11.2015 Ex.C-8 and issue a fresh electricity bill as per actual consumption of electricity and by applying the correct formula for levy of charges. While issuing the new bill, the complainant is not to be charged any penalty for non payment of bill in dispute Ex.C-8.

(b)    to pay a lump sum compensation of Rs.10,000/- (Rs. Ten thousand only) to the complainant for mental agony, harassment and costs of litigation.

                Compliance of the above directions be made within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Certified copies of the order be furnished to the parties forthwith free of cost and thereafter the file be consigned to the record room.

Pronounced.                           

April 25, 2016.     

                        (Mrs. Madhu P. Singh)

                                                                        President

(Mrs. R.K. Aulakh)

              Member