Chandigarh

DF-I

CC/538/2020

Dinesh Singh - Complainant(s)

Versus

The Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Electricity Department - Opp.Party(s)

Ashok Kumar Chauhan

22 Nov 2023

ORDER

DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION-I,

U.T. CHANDIGARH

 

                    

Consumer Complaint No.	:	CC/538/2020
Date of Institution	:	25.11.2020
Date of Decision	:	22/11/2023

 

Dinesh Singh S/o Sh. Tulsi Ram R/o H. No.2280, Site & service Complex Dadumajra Colony, Chandigarh.

 

… Complainant

V E R S U S

1. The Chief Engineer, Chandigarh Electricity Department, Sector 9, Chandigarh.
2. The S.D.O. Sub Division No. Sector 40, Chandigarh.  

.  … Opposite Parties

 

CORAM :	PAWANJIT SINGH	PRESIDENT
	SURJEET KAUR SURESH KUMAR SARDANA	MEMBER MEMBER

                       

ARGUED BY		Complainant in person.
		Sh. Sachin, ADA for OPs alongwith Sh. Virender Kumar, Revenue Accountant O/o OP No.2.

Per SURJEET KAUR, Member

     Briefly stated the electricity meter of OPs is installed in the premises of the complainant and the complainant is paying the electricity bill regularly  as is apparent from online receipt Exhibit C-2. However, on 31.7.2020 the complainant was shocked to see when he received a huge bill of Rs.12993/- and the complainant immediately approached OP No.2 and complained about the huge amount of bill but the OP No.2 made excuse that there would be earthing of electricity due to which the electricity meter is running fast and the department will sent the official to check the meter and next time the bill would be raised on actual basis and as such the complainant paid the said bill to avoid any litigation. However, again in the month of October 2020 the complainant received a bill of Rs.15889/- The complainant again approached the OP No.2 and made a complaint dated 21.10.2020 requesting the OP No.2 to change the meter as the existing meter is running even after switching off the main switch. On receipt of complaint the official of Ops visited the premises of the complainant and pulled out the electricity supply from the said meter but even then the meter was running. The official of the OPs asked the complainant to apply for change of meter by paying Rs.200/- and accordingly the complainant requested the OPs for change of the meter but nothing concrete was done by them. It is alleged that due to the aforesaid act of the OPs the complainant has paid an amount of Rs.50,000/- in the shape of bills  on account of defaulted meter. Alleging the aforesaid act of Opposite Parties deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on their part, this complaint has been filed

2. The Opposite Parties  in their reply stated that the complainant is not a consumer qua the OPs as the meter in question is existing in the name of Rajinder Prasad since 2.12.2005. It is averred that after receiving the complaint on 22.10.2020 a J.E. was deputed to check the working of the meter in question and concerned J.E. reported that the meter is running without load.  Accordingly on the report of the J.E. the meter in question was replaced  on 12.12.2020.  The account  of the complainant has already been over-hauled  for the period 16.6.2020 to 12.12.2020 the period in which the meter in question remained defective.  It is averred that the complainant is not making payment of the electricity bill even after installation of new meter. As per record the complainant only deposited Rs.30,614/- for the bill raised for the period 16.12.2019 to 16.8.2020.  The electricity bill during the period 16.6.2020 to 12.12.2020 in which the meter remain defective have been revised as per Regulation 7.12 of the Electricity Supply Code Regulation 2018 and a refund of Rs.21,101/- has been credited in the account of the complainant.    All other allegations made in the complaint has been  denied being wrong.
3. Replication was filed and averments made in the consumer complaint were reiterated.
4. Contesting parties led evidence by way of affidavits and documents.
5. We have heard the learned counsel for the contesting parties and gone through the record of the case.
6. Through the present complaint the complainant prayed for compensation of Rs.50,000/- on account of mental agony and refund of financial loss caused to him to the tune of Rs.50,000/- alongwith litigation cost of Rs.25,000/-
7. The sole grouse of the complainant through instant complaint is that the electricity meter in question installed at his home is faulty which is required  to be replaced and he has requested for new bills to be issued as per the latest meter reading.
8. Perusal of Annexure R-1 the copy of meter change order placed on record by the OPs reveals that on the complaint of the complainant the faulty meter was changed. Annexure R-3   is the revised bill issued by Ops to the complainant regarding revised electricity bill and the said fact has been affirmed vide duly sworn affidavit of one Sh. Amit Kumar Saini, Assistant Executive Engineer of the OPs.
9. Annexure R-2 containing the regulations of Electricity Supply Code Regulation and relevant Regulation 7.12 is reproduced as under:-   

“7.12 In case of defective/stuck/stopped/burnt meter, the consumer shall be billed on the basis of average consumption corresponding to the three billing cycles of the previous year wherein the meter was functional. These charges shall be leviable for a maximum period of three months only during which time the licensee is expected to have replaced the defective meter.”

 

10. In view of the foregoing, in our opinion as per the applicable regulation the defective meter has been changed and thereafter,  revised electricity bill Annexure R-3 has also been issued to the complainant. Moreover, admittedly, refund of Rs.21,101/- has also already been credited in the account of the complainant. Thus, the grievance of the complainant already stands redressed by the OPs and no case is made out against the OPs
11. In view of the aforesaid discussion, the present consumer complaint, being devoid of any merit, is hereby dismissed leaving the parties to bear their own costs.
12.     Certified copies of this order be sent to the parties free of charge. The file be consigned

			sd/- [Pawanjit Singh]
			President
			Sd/-
			[Surjeet Kaur] Member Sd/-
22/11/2023			[Suresh Kumar Sardana]
mp			Member