SHRI RAGHUNATH KAR, PRESIDENT:
The complaint filed by the complainant alleging deficiency of service against the O.Ps are to the effect as follows-
That the complainant is a bonafied consumer under the authorization of the O.Ps vide consumer No. DJ451348. The complainant used to pay the electricity dues to the O.Ps regularly & sincerely. In spite of that the O.Ps were not preparing the bills of the succeeding months correctly, as such some arrear are pending upon the complainant. In spite of several requests made by him to the complainant to verify & correct the bills but the O.Ps carelessly avoided him. The complainant has received a bunch of money receipts. Although the meter was running perfectly but the O.Ps have erroneously prepaided the bill on 26.07.2012, showed the meter was defective, charged the amount of 216 units as average upon the complainant & the amount Rs 839/- was imposed oppose him. The complainant protested against the system but the O.Ps assured him that the old Jaypur meter shall be oust from his home stead premises & the new digital meter shall be installed in place of the old one. They also assured the complainant that work should be done within a month but it is a matter of regret that after lapse of one year & seven months, the new meter could not be installed. The complainant further requested the O.Ps to activate the old meter till the installation of the new one but the O.Ps did not pay any heed to his request.
The complainant has alleged that due to the irregularity, insincerity, lethargic nature & behaviors of the O.Ps 216 units has been imposed upon the complainant instated of 25 to 70 units. This is nothing but the deficiency of service caused to the complainant as a result of which he has already pay Rs 700/- per month as extra amount & the total amount of the Rs 13,300/- has been paid. The complainant requested to the O.Ps again & again to verify the bills of the preceding months & to rectify them, but on the other hand the O.Ps did not heedful to him a rather demanded more & more upon the complainant. At last the O.Ps disconnected the power supply on 25.03.2014. The complainant has already deposited reduce for the month of January- 2014 on dt. 28.02.2014 vide money receipt no 132167. The complainant has further alleged against the O.Ps that due to their negligence in duty the complainant has sustained a financial loss of Rs 20,000/-.
Hence he has sought for the reliefs of (i) To restore the power supply to the complainants house premises immediately (ii) The O.Ps be directed to verify the bills (iii) The O.Ps be directed to return the excess amount which there received from the complainant from June- 2012 to February- 2014 amounting to Rs 20,000/- (iv) The O.Ps be directed to installed the new meter or to activate the old one (v) The O.Ps be directed to revise all the bills
The complainant has also filed certain documents- (i) 35 numbers of bills original (ii)24 number of money receipts (iii) 2 numbers of AD.
On the other hand the authorized representative namely Mrutunjay Dey appeared on behalf of the O.Ps in this Forum. He has filed an objection with regard to this interim order passed in favour of the complainant on 03.11.2014 he has filed also documents on behalf of the O.Ps such as Xerox copies- 3 numbers of the money receipts & one number of bill. He has filed no written version the support of stand of the O.Ps.
OBSERVATION
We have already perused the complaint & the documents filed by both the parties. The complaint has already obtained the power supply to the premises of the house by means of the interim order granted by this Forum on 03.11.2014. We have already observed that the complainant has been paying the dues regularly. It is clearly manifested from the documents that due to the defect of the old meter some wrong calculation has been made, as well as due to the non installation of the new digital meter & the non activation of the old Jaypur meter the calculation of preparing the bill by the O.ps are not to be found correct. The O.Ps have prepared the bills of different months such as from the month of June- 2012 to February- 2014. This bills have been prepared by making average calculation of the preceding months. We have found the primafacie case of deficiency of service caused by the O.Ps. Installation of new digital meter or activation of old meter is the primary duty of the O.Ps. There is no reason, the complainant is to flatter or canvass to the O.Ps for installation of the new meter. That is the duty of the service provider to provide the service to the consumers sincerely & diligently. They should maintain the sanctity, genuinty & honesty in their business. The consumer should not suffer or sustained any financial loss for the negligence of the O.Ps. Calculation & preparation of bills without existence of meter is a defective procedure. The O.Ps shall always be sincere & look into the proper procedure to install the meter & make calculation of the bills after proper reading of the meter. The preparation bills according to average method & by inference is not the legal way to determine the bills. Hence ordered;
ORDER
The complaint is & the same be allowed on contest. The O.Ps are here by directed to restore the power supply to the house premises of the complainant within 3 days from date the passing of the order, provided that if the consumer has not obtained the same relief by means of the interim order. The O.Ps are also directed to verify & rectify the bills of the complainant from the month of June- 2012 to 25.03.2014. The O.Ps are further directed to install a new meter in the house premises of the complainant. They are also directed to adjust the execs dues paid by the consumer in the dues of succeeding months. The complainant is also directed to pay 30% arrears if any & the reconnection charges to the complainant. Both parties are directed to carry out this order within 30 days from the date of pronouncement of this order.
This order is pronounced in the open Forum on the 10th day of August, 2017 under my hand and seal of the Forum.
