CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL FORUM NORTHERN REGION, KOZHIKODE. (Formed under Section 42(5) of Electricity Act 2003) Vydyuthibhavan, Gandhi Road, Kozhikode -673011 Telephone Number -0495 2367820 [email protected]

PRESENT

MEENA. S : CHAIRPERSON

MANOJAN P.P : MEMBER II

ROBIN PETER : MEMBER III

OP NO.48/2018-19

PETITIONER :

Sri.P.P.Prabhakaran, Puthiyapurayil House, Nuchiyad P.O, -670 705.

RESPONDENTS :

1. Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, ,- 670703

2. Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, KSEB Ltd, Ulickal ,Kannur, District- 670705 ORDER

Case of the Petitioner:-

The petitioner, Sri. Prabhakaran P.P, Puthiyapurayil House, Nuchiyad P.O, Kannur district, having the consumer number 785, comes under the jurisdiction of electrical section , complaints that an exorbitant bill during the month of March- April for Rs9574/- was issued. The petitioner is regularly paying the bill amount below Rs1000/- and is aghast at the issue of such an alarming bill. The petitioner stated that he had not consumed such an amount of electricity. Feeling astonished and aggrieved, the petitioner approaches the Forum to remove the anomaly and do the needful.

Version by the Respondent:-

The consumer (No.785-Ulikkal Electrical Section), Sri.Prabhakaran, Nuchiyad had approached Hon’ble Forum for canceling the excess amount Rs.9469/- demanded for the billing cycle 5/2018. The service connection of consumer No.785 was effected on 17.3.1987 in LT IA tariff. The service connection is in the name of late Raman, father of the petitioner.

2 The consumption pattern of Consumer No. 785 is as follows:

Bill Month Units Remarks

07/2017 144

09/2017 159

11/2017 176

01/2018 202

03/2018 147+118 Mechanical meter changed to L&T make TOD meter.

05/2018 1152

Excess consumption was noticed at the petitioner’s premises during meter reading time for the billing cycle 05/2018; hence bill was not served and informed the consumer about the excess reading.

The consumer requested for an inspection at the premises and based on his request, a parallel meter was placed in his premises by Sub Engineer, Electrical Section, Ulikkal to verify the accuracy of the meter on 16-05-2018. The following is the details of check meter.

Meter No. Date & time of IR FR Date & Time Consum Remarks initial reading of FR ption

71472645 16-05-2018 11:37 1447 1505 19-05-2018 58 Consumption 11:40 match. Hence no error in 31594225 16-05-2018 11:40 0 58 19-05-2018 58 the meter 11:40 On 19-05-2018 the consumer’s installation was checked by the Sub Engineer,Electrical Section,Ulikkal. Switched off the main switch at the consumer’s installation and checked both the meters and found that the current is zero in both the meters. While keeping all the switches at the consumer’s installation in off position, switched on the main switch. After switching on the main switch, saw 5A in both the meters. Hence concluded that fault is in consumer’s installation. Immediately after the inspection, the check meter was disconnected (on 19-05-2018) by the Sub Engineer, Electrical Section, Ulikkal and found that there is no error in the meter. That means the meter is recording actual consumption. Then, asked the consumer to check the wiring at the consumer’s installation. The same was informed to the consumer by a letter on 18-06-2018. Bill for the month of 05/2018 was confirmed and served to the consumer on 19-05-2018.

Considering the above facts, the Respondent is hereby praying before the Hon’ble CGRF to dismiss the petition and if the petitioner demands to verify the accuracy of the meter, the same can be checked from any approved lab.

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Discussion, analysis and findi ngs :-

The hearing of the case was held on 10.7.2018 and 21.8.2018.

The petition is with regard to the issue of an exorbitant bill for a sum of Rs9574/- stating that the consumption was very high. The petitioner contended that regular bills are always timely remitted and never defaulted. Normally, the regular bills are to the tune of below Rs1000/- The parallel study revealed that the meter is in accurate working condition. But it is noted that both meters recorded 5 amperes when the main switch was in “On” condition with all loads removed.

During the hearing convened on 10.7.2018 the Forum directed the licensee to get the meter tested at TMR division Kannur, for checking whether any abnormality occurred during the disputed period.

Having considered all the documents submitted and the deliberations during the hearing,the Forum has come to the following conclusions leading to the decision:-

1) The request of the petitioner is to consider the bimonthly spot bill issued on 07.5.2018 for Rs9576/- as the bill amount is higher than the previous bills.

5 2) The meter was tested at TMR lab Kannur and found healthy and also no abnormality noticed during the consumption period from 07.3.2018 to 07.5.2018.

3) On analyzing the test report it is noticed that maximum load of 2.46 KW,2.34 KW and 1.92 KW were consumed on 08.3.2018 ( At 12 noon ),30.4.2018 (At 8 am) and 05.5.2018 (At 8 am) respectively in the disputed bill period.

4) The high consumption recorded for the period from 07.3.2018 to 07.5.2018 is the period of summer season.

5) The electro mechanical meter installed in the premises was replaced with an electronic meter on 08.2.2018 and the actual consumption in the premises was recorded in the new meter.

As such the Forum concluded that the consumption recorded in the meter is correct and the petitioner is liable to remit the amount.

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DECISION:- 1) The petition is dismissed. 2) The Respondent shall give 6 nos. bimonthly installments for the spot bill for Rs9576/-, if the petitioner requests for. 3) Surcharge in the petition period is exempted. Dated this the 23 rd day of Aug, 2018

Sd/- Sd/- Sd/- Robin Peter Manojan PP. Meena. S

Member III Member II Chairperson. Endt.on CGRF-NR/OP 48/2018-19 / 387/ 23 - 8-2018

Forwarded to: If the petitioner is not satisfied with the above order of 1) Sri.Prabhakaran P.P- this Forum, she is at liberty to prefer appeal before Puthiyapurayil House, State Electricity Ombudsman, Charangattu Bhavan Nuchiyad P.O, Building No.34/895,Mamangalam,Anchumana Road, Kannur-670705. Edapally,-682024 (Ph: 04842346488) within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order. 2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd,Iritty, Kannur District-670703 Copy submitted to: Chief Engineer (Distribution –) , Kannur. Copy to: 1. The Secretary, KSEB Ltd., Vydyuthibhavanam, . 2. Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle,Sreekantapuram. 3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Iritty. 4. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section,Ulickal, Forwarded KSEB Ltd., Kannur District-670705 Sd/- Chairperson