DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, JHARSUGUDA
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CASE NO. 26 OF 2015
Judhisthir Bhoi,
S/O: Late Balabhadra Bhoi,
R/O: AT/ PO: H. Katapali,
Dist- Jharsuguda, Odisha…………………..…………………………..…..……. Complainant.
Versus
- Sub-Assistant Engineer / Junior Engineer,
Section – III, Near Collectorate,
PO- OMP line, PS/Dist: Jharsuguda, Odisha.
- The SDO, WESCO/SESCO, Jharsuguda,
AT- Pahadi Mandir Road, PO- K.M.Road,
PS/Dist- Jharsuguda............................................................................ Opp. Parties.
Counsel for the Parties:-
For the Complainant Self.
For the Opp. Parties Shri B. B. Barai, Adv. & Associates.
Date of Order: 05.10.2015
Present
1. Shri S.L Behera, President.
2. Smt. A. Nanda, Member(W).
Shri S. L. Behera, President :- The brief facts of the complaint case is that, the complainant is a consumer of the O.Ps. since dtd. 19.03.1998, bearing Consumer No. 413103010737 and he was paying the electricity bills regularly to the O.Ps. Since the date of said electric connection the supply of voltage is very low. In the year 2001 the O.Ps given electric bill of Rs. 22,248/- only to the complainant without taking meter reading. The complainant lodged complaint to the SDO (Elect), Jharsuguda on dtd. 15.12.2001. The said SDO (Elect) , Jharsuguda sent three persons to inspect who found the meter to be a defective one and wrong billing was made and fixed Rs.222/- only per month on average basis and promised to cancel the said bill but till date the O.Ps did not correct the same and disconnected the electric supply. The complainant filed this case for proper relief.
On service of notices, the O.Ps appeared and filed Written Version jointly through their counsel admitting the facts of electricity connection and submitted that the complainant is a consumer vide consumer No. 4131-0301-0737 but not accepted on supply of any low voltage. The O.Ps submitted that the complainant is a defaulter in making payment of electric bills and he has outstanding of Rs. 39,633/- only up to 05/2015. The bills are generated as per actual consumption of electricity and as per verification report. The O.Ps denied on any deficiency of service and prayed for dismissal of the case.
Heard the matter in length from both the parties, gone through the case and materials available on record. The complainant has taken the electricity connection since the year 1998 and since then the voltage of power supply was very low which reveals from the various complaints and written approach of the MLA, Jharsuguda, Shri Naba Kishore Das (dtd. 27.07.2013) due to long distance of supply from the existing transformer. As per the observation of the electricity bill of (Aug- Sep 2004 , bearing Bill No. 5363, dtd. 11.10.2004) issued by the O.Ps, the electric meter was changed and a new meter was installed bearing No. C 1887545. The complainant lodged complaint on dtd. 15.12.2001 bearing Complaint Reference 825 on the form provided by the O.Ps alongwith the written complaint but the O.Ps changed the meter in the year 2004 and upto that period charged unexpected amount of Rs. 22,248/- only which extended to 39,633/- only upto 05/2015. As per the bills of the year 2012 the O.Ps issued bills on average of 100 units per month, it means the O.Ps were not taking the proper readings and also not issuing regular bills rather issue bills as per their suitabilities which is bad in the eye of general principles of practice.
On the above observations and analysis, it is found that the O.Ps adopted casual activities towards the complainant since the date of taking electric connection and the whole activities denotes towards deficiency in service on the part of the O.Ps towards complainant.
Hence, we are in considered opinion to allow the complaint of the complainant with directions to the O.Ps. to take proper meter reading regularly and issue actual bills as per consumption. Further the O.Ps are directed to waive out the entire the disputed bill amount and pay a sum of Rs. 2,000/- (Rupees two thousand) only towards harassment, mental agony including litigation cost to the complainant.
Accordingly the case is disposed of.
Order pronounced in the open court today on this the 05th day of October’ 2015, copy of this order shall be communicated to the parties as per rule.
I Agree,
A.Nanda, Member(W) S.L.Behra (President)
Dictated and corrected by me,
S.L.Behra (President)