Punjab

Sangrur

CC/338/2018

Mejar Singh - Complainant(s)

Versus

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited - Opp.Party(s)

Sh.Tarun Goyal

22 Apr 2019

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, SANGRUR      

                                                             

                                               

                                                              Complaint no. 338

                                                              Instituted on:  14.08.2018

                                                              Decided on:    22.04.2019

 

Mejor Singh son of Gurnam Singh, resident of Ward No.1, Bhogi Patti, Dirba, Tehsil Dirba, District Sangrur 148 035.

           

                                                …. Complainant  

                                Versus

 

1.       Punjab State Power Corporation Limited through its M.D. The Mall, Patiala 147001.

2.       AEE, SDO, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, Sub Division Dirba City. 148 035.                                                                        ….Opposite parties.

 

FOR THE COMPLAINANT            :         Shri  Tarun Goyal,   Advocate                        

FOR THE OPP. PARTIES                 :        Shri Ritesh Garg, Advocate                          

 

 

Quorum              

                            

Vinod Kumar Gulati,   PresidingMember

Manisha, Member

 

ORDER:  

 

Vinod Kumar Gulati, Presiding Member

 

1.             Major Singh, complainant has preferred the present complaint against the opposite parties (referred to as OPs in short) on the ground that he is a consumer of the OPs having an electric connection bearing account number S91BT272574A and has been regularly paying the bills of electricity.  The complainant is aggrieved on receiving bill dated 31.7.2018 for Rs.40,060/- which is said to be illegal one as the complainant never used the electricity to such an extent. Though the complainant approached the Ops for withdrawal of the disputed bill, but all in vain. Thus, alleging deficiency in service on the part of OPs, the complainant has sought following relief:- 

i)      OPs be directed to correct the disputed bill dated 31.7.2018 for Rs.40,060/- and not to disconnect the electricity connection of the complainant.

ii)     OPs be directed to pay to the complainant a sum of Rs.25,000/- on account mental agony and harassment,

iii)     OPs be directed to pay Rs.10,000/- as litigation expenses.

 

2.             In reply filed by the OPs, it is stated that the complaint is not maintainable, that the complainant has concealed the material facts from this Forum and that the complainant has no cause of action to file the present complaint. On merits, it is admitted that the complainant is a consumer of the Ops. It is also admitted that the Ops sent a bill dated 31.7.2018 of Rs.40,060/- for the consumption of 5052 units. It is stated further that in the month of May, 2018 the new reading of the meter of the complainant was 6928 units and old reading was 5458 units and the complainant consumed 1470 units which was higher than the previous reading and the bill of 344 units for 60 days was issued to the complainant on the average basis of May 2018 of 327 units of 57 days with ‘I’ code and in the month of July, 2018 the new reading of the complainant was 10510 units showing consumption of 5458 units and bill for Rs.40,060/- was issued with ’O’ code and Rs.2399/- for average units of 344 was deducted from the bill of July, 2018.  As such, it is stated that the bill is quite legal and bonafide.  Lastly, the Ops have prayed for dismissal of the complaint with special costs. Thus, there is no deficiency in service on the part of the OPs.  

 

3.             The complainant has tendered documents Ex.CW1/A to Ex.CW2/A and Ex.C-1 to Ex.C-4 and closed evidence. The learned counsel for Ops has produced Ex.OP1/A affidavit and Ex.OP1 to Ex.OP6 copies of bills and data and closed evidence.

 

4.             We have heard the arguments of the learned counsel for the parties and have also perused the case file.  Either of the parties has not produced the written arguments.

5.             It is admitted fact between the parties that account number S91BT272574A is running in the name of the complainant with a sanctioned load of 2 KW and has deposited Rs.2360/-. That the Ops sent the bill dated 31.7.2018 of Rs.40,060/- for the consumption of 5052 units. We have gone through the written statement and the arguments of the Ops and the Ops have submitted that the bill dated 31.7.2018 of Rs.40,060/- for the consumption of 5052 units was sent to the complainant for payment.  From the Ex.OP-6, it has been observed that Ops compared the consumption of the power by the complainant in May, 2016, May, 2017 with that in the month of May, 2018 and the consumption in the month of 5/2018 is inconsistent one being higher in 5/2018 than that in the 5/2016 and 5/2017.  The Ops in their written reply have not mentioned that under which regulation of Supply Code/Electricity Act, this method has been adopted to arrive at the figure of consumption of 5052 units for which an amount of Rs.40,060/-  has been claimed in the bill dated 31.7.2018.

 

6.             In the sequel of above discussion, the demand raised by the OPs in the bill dated 31.07.2018 for Rs.40060/- is not justified and is illegal one and the same is hereby quashed.  Ops are further directed to issue the electricity bills to the complainant on the  basis of actual consumption and adjust the amount already paid, if any in the future bills of consumption. The Ops are further directed to pay to the complainant an amount of Rs.5000/- on account of compensation for mental tension, agony and harassment as well as litigation expenses. This order of ours be complied with within a period of 45 days of receipt of copy of this order.    A copy of the order be supplied to the parties free of charge. File be consigned to records in due course.                 

                Announced.

                April 22, 2019.

 

 

                              ( Vinod Kumar Gulati)             (  Manisha)               

PMember               Presiding Member                       Member