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Office of the Deputy Chief Engineer/Chairperson, Consumers Grievance Redressal Forum (South), Vydyuthi Bhavanam, Kottarakkara Phone: 0474-2060220

No. CGRF/KTR/OP.No.248/2008 Dated. .06.2008.

To The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, K.S.E Board, .

Sir,

Sub: - Releasing of order of disposal of OP.No.248/2008.

Ref: - B.O (FB) No.585/2006 (LA.II/1173/2006) dated 25.2.2006.

……

Enclosed the order of disposal of petition filed by the President, Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd in O.P.No.248/08 for further action.

Yours faithfully,

DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER, CHAIRPERSON, CGRF (SOUTH)

Copy to:-

1. The President, Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd, No.K 101 (D) Apcos, Kappumthala P.O, Pin- 686 613.

2. The Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle,

3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, 2

3. Present: 1. Sri.S.Ramabhadran, Deputy Chief Engineer, Chairperson, CGRF (South), Kottarakkara.

2. Sri.E.Mohammed Shereef, Executive Engineer, Office of the Chief Engineer (Distribution South), and Member, CGRF (South).

Saturday the 21th day of June 2008

OP.No.248/2008

Between

Petitioner: The President, Kesheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam Ltd, Kappumthala.

And

Respondent: The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, Kuravilangad.

ORDER

The Forum received a petition from the President, Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangam alleging the higher tariff assigned, and the exorbitant bills raised against Bulk Milk Cooling unit run by the society. Forum heard the parties on 27.5.08 and examined the evidences. The petition in brief:- The petitioner’s Milk Society started functioning of a Bulk Milk Cooling unit from July 2007. For this purpose a 3 phase connection was obtained. For getting electricity charges at lower tariff application was given to Electrical Section, along with SSI registration certificate on 5.9.2007. Even though the machineries were erected in April 2007, the operation started in full swing since 28.11.2007. The electricity charges are being made at higher tariff since April 2007. Now the electricity bills have been enhanced to the tune of Rs.15000/-. The petitioner had complained many times with the KSE Board authorities, but to no avail. The petitioner prays to the Forum for necessary orders for changing the tariff with retrospective effect and not to disconnect the supply for default of payment at the higher rate. Version of the opposite party:- The electric connection in the name of the society vide consumer No.10783 under LT VII B tariff has been existing since 5/94, with a connected load of 580 W. The connected load was enhanced to 7 KW and the existing connection was 3 converted into 3 phase in 4/07. Since then the tariff was changed to LT VI C, and bi- monthly bills are being issued under LT VI C tariff. On getting an application for change of tariff, the respondent inspected the premises and found that the unit is indulged in collecting milk from farmers and preserving in cold storage, for supply to MILMA through milk collecting van of Milma. Since it is not a milk chilling unit, LT IV tariff is not applicable. The respondent has further stated that the LT VI C tariff assigned is irregular. Findings of the Forum:- It is admitted by the opposite party that the assigning of LT VI C tariff to the milk cooling unit is not in order and hence the petitioner has to be assigned proper tariff with effect from 4/07. Now the question that arises is what is the proper tariff applicable to the petitioner’s milk cooling unit. As per the tariff notification dated 27.11.2007, Milk chilling plant with or without chilling/freezing/cold storage activity shall be charged under industrial category, provided the chilling/freezing/cold storage load is limited to 20% of the total connected load. In this case the entire load in the unit is for functioning as cold storage and not as a chilling plant and hence does not come under the above provision. In such cases the tariff applicable is LT VII A. Hence the tariff of the petitioner has to be changed to VII A with immediate effect, and the excess amount realized by way of over charging under LT VI C tariff from 4/07 onwards shall be repaid. In the result the Forum orders to change the tariff of the petitioner’s unit to LT VII A with immediate effect, and to refund the excess amount realized by charging under LT VI C tariff since 4/07. The petition stands disposed as above.

E.MOHAMMED SHEREEF, S.RAMABHADRAN, EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER/CHAIRPERSON MEMBER, CGRF (SOUTH)

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