DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, JHARSUGUDA
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CASE NO. 48 OF 2015
Rajendra Ramani (71 Yrs),
S/O: Late Gobind Ramani,
RO: Ganganagar, PO: Lamtibahal,
PS: Brajrajnagar,
Dist: Jharsuguda, Odisha……………….…….…………………..……Complainant.
Versus
- Executive Engineer, Brajrajnagr Electrical Division,
Near Bijay Laxmi Complex Gandhichowk, Brajrajnagar,
PO/PS: Brajrajnagar, Dist: Jharsuguda, Odisha.
- Sub-Divisional Officer, Electrical,Brajrajnagar,
PO/PS: Brajrajnagar,
Dist: Jharsuguda, Odisha.……..….…………….…….…..…..…….Opp. Parties.
Counsel for the Parties:-
For the Complainant Shri S.C.Tripathy,Adv. & Associates.
For the Opp. Parties Shri B.B. Barai, Adv. Associates.
Date of Order: 26.04.2016
Present
1. Shri S.L Behera, President.
2. Smt. A. Nanda, Sr.Member.
Shri S. L. Behera, President :- The complainant’s case in brief is that, he is a consumer of O.Ps since 1991 of domestic category bearing consumer No. 417101020351 and was paying the electricity bills regularly. Since the date of taking electricity connection the electricity tariff was charged of Rs.239/- only for every two months and the complainant was punctually paying the said dues. But all of sudden since the year-May/June,1999 the electricity charges reached to Rs.1500/- only and it was gradually increasing from time to time in very random manner like consumption of 20 units in previous month which reach to 7243 units in next month. The O.Ps. were not providing regular monthly electricity bill to the complainant. The complainant filed grievance before the camp of O.Ps. at Brajrajnagar for correction of alleged wrong billing. The O.Ps. demanded Rs.20,000/- only to the complainant for correction of wrong billing on dtd. 24.09.2013. The complainant paid Rs.20,000/- only but instead of making correction the O.Ps. simply deducted Rs.20,000/- only from the next month’s bill . There was dues of Rs.1,23,000/- only and the complainant
is ready to pay the dues after proper rectification which was not made. On the above facts the complainant filed this case before this Hon’ble Forum.
Being noticed, the O.Ps. appeared and filed written version through their counsel. The O.Ps. denied all the allegations imposed by the complainant except the fact of consumer number of the complainant. The O.Ps. submitted that the complainant was not paying the electricity bills regularly, so also the arrear bills. Since the Year-April,2002 the electronic billing data have been develop and till then the complainant was having accumulated arrear of Rs.44,199/- only against him which has been developed to Rs.1,23,347/- only till November,2015 due to non-payment of subsequent bills. After verifying the past billing records with three months average of present meter reading which was installed on 07.03.2015 was found consumption of 487 units in average which is much higher then the previous bills calculated on average basis. Further after taking actual meter reading from January, 2011 to July, 2011 there was 7243 units were consumed ( 1035 units in average). One physical verification was also made on dtd. 24.06.2015 where it was found that there is 2Kws load against the connected load of 1 KW and the new meter reading is of 1754 till then. To the above effects a detail reply was filed by the O.P.No.2 in the GRF case and the Hon’ble Forum in consideration of involved fact and records passed over on dt.06.07.20125 with observation that the previous provisional billed units are much less then the actual average units of current meter, hence there is no scope for revisions and accordingly disposed of the case. There is no any negligence in service by the O.Ps. and the case may be dismissed with costs to the complainant.
Heard the matter in length, gone through the case record. As per the case record this case is regarding the dispute of billing amount which is due on the complainant of Rs.1,20,347/- only upto dated November,2015.
The complainant has filed Money Receipt amount Rs.20,000/- dtd. 24.09.2013, Rs. 3366/- only dtd.22.04.2015 and a bill of March, 2015 amounting Rs.1,21,193/- only, a letter of O.Ps dtd. 17.08.2013, account statement dtd.24.06.2013, details of meter inspections and load census and a Physical Verification Report.
As per the above documents it is found that the load factor raised upto 2KW as per the apparatus used by the complainant and also as per the “details of meter inspections and load census” it has been mentioned that the disputed bill may be revised, but it is not found that whether the revision of disputed bill has been done or not.
However the complainant is entitled to pay the dues amount but that should be legitimate to him. The bill which was to be revised has not been revised till date.
In the above observations and analysis, we are in considered opinion to allow the complaint petition directing the O.Ps. to issue afresh electricity bill to the complainant after proper revision of his dues bill within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order and receive the revised bill amount in 05 (five) numbers of equal monthly installments, subsequently the complainant is also advised to clear the revised bill amount in 05 (five) numbers of equal monthly installments along with regular monthly bills amount.
Accordingly the case is disposed of.
Order pronounced in the open court today on this the 26th day of April’ 2016, copy of this order shall be communicated to the parties as per rule.
I Agree,
A.Nanda, Sr.Member S.L.Behra, President
Dictated and corrected by me,
S.L.Behra, President
