Complainant Inderjit Singh has filed the present complaint against the opposite parties U/S 12 of the Consumer Protection Act (for short, C.P.Act.) seeking necessary directions to the opposite parties to withdraw their illegal bill of Rs.10,450/-. Opposite parties be further directed to pay Rs.20,000/- for suffering mental agony alongwith Rs.10,000/- as litigation expenses.
2. The case of the complainant in brief is that he has installed a electric meter bearing Account No.G31G1310101N which is installed in the premises of S.K.I.T.I. Lehal. Prior to this 3 phase connection there was a single phase electricity connection No.G3KF560878X. He requested the opposite party to change his single phase meter and install the 3 phase meter in the S.K.I.T.I. Premises, on this opposite party disconnected the single phase meter and installed 3 phase meter on 15.5.2016. At the time of removing the single phase meter from the premises reading of the consumption was 1987 units and he paid bill for single phase meter. He has next pleaded that in the month of August he received the electricity bill regarding the removed single phase meter having account no. G3KF560878X dated 8.8.2016 of Rs.6540/-. Receiving this wrong bill he approached to the opposite party and gave a application on 22.8.2016 in which the opposite party marked the application to the concerned J.E. who after verification gave opinion that at the time of removing the single phase meter reading of meter was 1978 while the electricity bill dated 8.8.2016 shows the reading at the time of removing the single phase meter was 2875 is wrong and incorrect. He had already paid the bill for 1978 units. The opposite party is regularly sending electricity bill against removed single phase meter. The opposite party has recently sent electricity bill of the same dated 6.4.2017 of Rs.10,450/- which is wrong, illegal and arbitrary. Hence this complaint.
3. Notice of the complaint was issued to the opposite parties who appeared through their counsel and filed their written reply submitting therein that originally the connection was released in NRS Category but the computer prepared the bill in Domestic Category during the course of Audit, this fact came to the knowledge of the office of PSPCL, Dhariwal and therefore difference of tariff of NRS category and DS Category was charged from the month of 07-14 to 04-16 and since then the consumer did not deposit his bills forthwith uptill now. All other averments made in the complaint has been vehemently denied and lastly prayed that the complaint may be dismissed with costs.
4. Ld.counsel for the complainant has tendered into evidence affidavit of complainant Ex.C-1 alongwith copies of bill and application Ex.C-2 to Ex.C-7 and closed the evidence.
5. Ld.counsel for the opposite parties tendered into evidence affidavit of Sh.Subash Chander, SDO PSPCL Ex.OP-W-1/A alongwith copies of documents Ex.OP-2 and Ex.OP-3 and closed the evidence.
6. Written arguments have not been filed by the parties.
7. We have carefully gone through the pleadings of counsel for the complainant; oral arguments advanced by their respective counsels and have also appreciated the evidence produced on record with the valuable assistance of the learned counsel for the parties for the purposes of adjudication of the present complaint.
8. The complainant placed on record the copies of disputed electricity bills dated 8.8.2016 amounting to Rs.6540/- at Ex.C-4 and bill dated 6.4.2017 amounting to Rs.10,450/-. It is alleged by complainant that opposite party has issued wrong electricity bill dt.8/8/16 on the basis of wrong meter reading for the previous single phase meter replaced on account of increase in load. Similarly electricity bill dated 6.4.2017 is alleged to wrong and illegal.
As mentioned in the complaint this electricity connection is installed in the premises of S.K.I.T.I Lehal, which means it is not used for residential purposes.
9. Opposite parties in their written reply stated that this electric meter connection was originally released to the complainant in NRS Category and placed on record the copy of the Service Register in proof of the statement at Ex.OP-1. So relevent tariff of NRS/CS category was applicable to this connection. It is further pleaded that due to some error while issuing the electricity bill, these are prepared under domestic category instead of NRS Category. Later on in 4/2016 it has come to their notice and difference of tariff for the period 7/14 to 4/16 is charged to the complainant after overhauling of the account. Regarding other bill at 6.4.2017 it is stated that the complainant has not deposited the electricity bills issued after this disputed bill.
10 It is clear from the copy of the ledger placed at Ex.OP-2 by opposite party that previous bills were issued under D.S. Category.
Whereas the electric connection is installed the premises of ITI.It has also been originally released under NRS category. So relevant tariff of NRS category was applicable to this electric connection .
We agree to the act ofOP for charging the relevant tariff to the said connection. The amount of Rs.10,450/- charged in the bill dated 6/4/17 is just the accumulated of various pending unpaid electricity bills issued on the basis of the consumption. Hence we find no merit in the present complaint.
11. In view of the aforesaid discussion considering the facts and circumstances of the case the present complaint is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs.
12. The complaint could not be decided within the stipulated period due to heavy pendency of Court Cases, vacancies in the office and due to pandemic of Covid-19.
13. Copy of the order be communicated to the parties free of charges. After compliance, file be consigned.
(Naveen Puri)
President
Announced: (B.S.Matharu)
December 09, 2022 Member
*MK*
