IN THE DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL FORUM, MURSHIDABAD AT BERHAMPORE.

CASE No.  CC-118/2014 .

 Date of Filing:            28.08.2014.                                                                          Date of Final Order: 10.03.2015.

Complainant:  Saifor Ali, S/O Late Joynal Haque, Vill.+P.O.+P.S. Nabagram, Dist. Murshidabad.

-Vs-

Opposite Party: The S.s. Nabagram Electricity Office, P.O.&P.S. Nabagram, Dist. Murshidabad.

                       Present:  Sri Anupam Bhattacharyya   ………………….President.                                 

                                         Sri Samaresh Kumar Mitra ……………………..Member.           

                                                                        Smt. Pranati Ali ……….……………….……………. Member

FINAL ORDER

Smt. Pranati Ali- Presiding Member.

Brief fact of the consumer complaint u/s 12 of C.P. Act, is that the complainant/Saifor Ali is a consumer of the OP/Nabagram Electric Office, WBSEDCL. As per consumption by the complainant, all bills up to July,2014 were paid by the complainant regularly and there was no dues against him. He was surprised to receive a bill for the month of August, September and October, 2014 for a sum of Rs.31, 225/- , which was very much absurd and unrealistic to the complainant, as because the complainant used to pay an average billed amount of Rs.2000/- to Rs.3000/- . According to the complainant, the amount is erroneously excessive and is fictitious, unbelievable because the complainant paid the last bill i.e. May, June and July 2014 of Rs.1682/- with special rebate of Rs.30/-. The complainant several times met and intimated the matter to the OP. but the OP did not pay any heed, then he intimated the matter in writing on 09.08.2014 to the OP with a request to take proper action about the enormously excessive bill. But the OP did not take any step to solve the matter, rather asked the complainant to pay the bill; otherwise, they will disconnect the electric line of the complainant. Then the complainant is bound to come to the Forum for proper redress with a prayer to protect the connection of the electric line of the complainant immediately.

On the other hand, in spite of receiving notice the OP/ S.S. Nabagram Electricity Office, WBSEDCL, did not turn up in the case. So, the proceeding runs ex parte.

The only point for consideration is whether the complainant is entitled to get any relief as prayed for or not and also whether there is any deficiency in service on the part of the OP/WBSEDCL.

                                                                DECISION WITH REASONS.

     It is very relevant to mention that in support of his case the complainant has submitted certain documents. No document whatsoever, has been submitted on behalf of the OP in order to controvert the complainant’s case, as because, the OP did not turn up in this case.

The complainant in support of his case has submitted Xerox copies of electric bills issued by WBSEDCL one of those is showing payment of Rs.1682/- for the month of May, June and July, 2014 with a special rebate of Rs.30/-(Annexure-1). According to the complainant, this bill is a sample of his regular bills, which he used to pay in time without making any dues. But just after this bill the next month’s bill  i.e August, September and October, 2014 was with a sum of Rs.31, 225/- (Annexure- 2) which is enormously excessive to the complainant as a domestic consumer, at the same time it was impossible to pay by the complainant. So, he did not pay the bill and several times requested even in writing (annexure- 3) to the OP to disclose the reason behind this, but the OP remain silent, rather did not appear in this case also.  

This being the situation, in the given facts and circumstances of the case, coupled with the documents we are of the view that the OP is very much negligent in the matter of bill making as well as avoiding to check/verify the reason behind this abnormal change, as because not only abnormality of amount , the electricity units also. Bill for the months of May-July, 2014 shows consumption is 300 units, whereas immediate next bill for the month of August to October, 2014 shows consumption is 3605 units, where is a big gap or a radical change.  We learned from the order of Hon’ble National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission published on 2014(1)CPR 242(NC) that the Electricity Board cannot charge excessive electricity bill , as because , the electricity consumption of domestic  units must be between 100-150 units only, and the dis-appropriate  bill was issued by the OP. In this case also, the complainant stated in the complaint that he used to pay Rs. 2000/- to Rs.3000/- regularly and we also observed that the submitted regular bill amount was Rs.1682/- , which is very nearly of his statement in the complaint. We are unable to understand as to why the bill was not rechecking/verify by the OP, whereas the complainant requested to verify the matter. The OP did not pay any heed to the same, but it is their duty to public as a service provider. So, it is a clear deficiency in service on the part of the OP.

On the basis of above discussions and the materials on the record, we are of the view that the complainant is entitled to get relief as he prayed for. So, the OP should make fresh bill for the complainant on the basis of average unit consumption by the complainant, against the disputed bill and then minutely detect the defect/fault of the disputed bill and make the bill accordingly with due care and caution.

Thus the case succeeds.

Hence,

ORDERED

that the Consumer Complaint No. 118/2014 be and the same is allowed ex parte without order as to cost.

     The OP/the S.S, Nabagram Electric Office, WBSEDCL, is hereby directed to cancel the disputed bill and prepare a fresh bill for the months of August to October, 2014 on the basis of average unit consumption by the complainant and then enquire the cause of this abnormal change in the units of the meter as well as amount of the bill and do accordingly with due care and caution within 30 days and informed the complainant from the date of this order.

     If the order is not complied with within the time frame then the OP is under obligation to carry cost @Rs.50/- per day’s delay to the State Consumer Welfare Fund till the finalization.

Let a plain copy of this order be made available and be supplied free of cost, to each of the parties on contest in person, Ld. Advocate/Agent on record, by hand under proper acknowledgment / be sent forthwith under registered post with A/D to the concerned parties as per rules, for information and necessary action.

              MEMBER                                           MEMBER                                                              PRESIDENT

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