J U D G M E N T.
Brief facts of the case is that :- The Complainant Padma Lochan Barma, appeared in person and filed this case on dated 22.10.2014 allegedly regarding faulty and arbitrary charge of Electric Bill, supplied by the O.Ps.
The complainant residing at Khariar N.A.C. Ward No. 8 since a long period and the O.P. Electrical Department WESCO has been supplied power since a long period both are within the jurisdiction of this Hon’ble Forum. The complainant is the consumer of the O.P. vide Consumer No. 906121011508 of Section 1 under Khariar Sub-Division under Nuapada district.
The Electric Bill used to come regularly in the name of Babru Bahan Barma’s name till last April 2014 and after April 2014 charged in the name of the complainant Padma Lochan Barma. from 2011, Babru Bahan Barma has took a separate electric connection from the O.P. The same house was divided in to two electric connection.
The allegation of the complainant is that upto February, 2010 the consumption of electric per month was 18 Units (as per office record). The document relating to the bill attached by the complainant when entire house is one but after March, 2010, strangely the meter reading has increased upto 144 Units per month 8 times higher than the old bill. The complainant Padma Lochan Barma has informed the O.P. No. 1 i.e. Executive Engineer, Nuapada about the increased unit from 18 Unit to 144 Unit on dated 19.7.2012. As his petition of the petitioner, he has cleared his arrear dues Rs. 4,674/- in one time settlement and paid Rs. 3,000/- (Rupees three thousand) only on dated 22.8.2013. Despite by personal approach and sending letter. The O.P. has sent arrear bills months together without redressing my grievances. Rather the O.P. has charged arbitrarily high amount of arrear as per consumption of the petitioner. The present petitioner never prayed for any relief or compensation except the arrear due of the O.P.
The O.P. has filed his version on dated 11.7.2016 and admitted the petitioner as a consumer. The complainant was residing at joint household up to 2011 and on separate application his brother Babru Bahan Barma took separate electric connection at the old connection remained with the complainant in this case. Prior to verification of meter, it was 18 Units average bill per month after verification it was 144 Unit monthly average bills as per report of consumption of the petitioner. On 19.7.2012, the petitioner appraised for the increased of electricity unit to the O.P. and he paid Rs. 4,674/- as part payment not one time settlement on February, 2012 out of claim of Rs. 8,134/-.
It is also the O.P. has submitted the arrear bill as the petitioner/ complainant has used electricity from 2005 to March,2011 without paying any dues as the arrear dues is Rs. 8,703/- upto March, 2011. After separation of electric connection the petitioner has paid Rs. 1,000/- in the month of March, 2011 and Rs. 2,000/- in June, 2011 and Rs. 1,000/- on October, 2011 as Rs. 4,674/- is his arrear after payment of the dues till February, 2012.
On January, 2013 the meter of the petitioner was verified and found defective, it has changed and supplied a bill of Rs. 9,423/- out of which Rs. 3,000/- paid by the petitioner on dated 22.03.2013. In March, 2013, new meter was installed vide No. 8135733. The S.D.O., Khariar (O.P.) verified the meter and household of the petitioner and found the load factor is 2.5 K.W. in his premises and submitted the total report (report annexed). The meter has changed by the petitioner from the meter of O.P. as per serial number differ. As per load factor of 2.5. K.W. the average bill is 300 Units per month and penalty for defective meter the O.P. has in the shape of penalty Rs. 50,000/- imposed to the petitioner / consumer hence he is not entitle for any relief and claimed compensation. Hence the complaint has got no merit, install a anew meter to the consumer.
O R D E R.
Perused the record and verify all the documents relating to this case and after hearing and argument of both the parties. The Hon’ble Forum has come to a conclusion that, the O.P. No. 1 & 2 are directed to collect the arrear dues from the present petitioner of this case after separation of their household and installation of new meter. The O.P. has to charge actual dues after installation of new meter and calculate average bill as 1 K.W. from March, 2010 and earlier arrear accrues . All payment of arrear will be made by the O.P. by monthly installment basis and collect the arrear within two year after separate calculation of 1 K.W. load factor deduct all the payment as arrear without disconnecting the electric line of the petitioner. Take lenient view for the payment of arrear by the petitioner and deduct the demand of 50,000/- to less amount as the OP prefer.
The case is disposed off accordingly.
Judgment pronounced in the Open Court of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Nuapada, this the 15th day of December 2016.
