CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL FORUM KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LTD- SOUTHERN REGION VYDYUTHI BHAVANAM, KOTTARAKKARA ------Present: 1
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- 1 – CONSUMER GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL FORUM KERALA STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD LTD- SOUTHERN REGION VYDYUTHI BHAVANAM, KOTTARAKKARA ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Present: 1. Sri. V.K. Mani, Deputy Chief Engineer, Chairperson 2. Sri. Suresh.N, Executive Engineer, Member II Saturday 22nd February 2020 OP No.01/2020 Between Petitioner: Sri. Babu.T, Babu Nivas, Manappally North, Thazhava, Karunagappally. And Respondents: (1) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, Oachira. (2) The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Manappally. ORDER 1. Grievance of the petitioner is as follows. The petitioner is a domestic consumer under Electrical Section, Manappally bearing Consumer No.15427. He is aggrieved by electricity bills from 04/06/2018. The petitioner stated that from 04/04/2018, the premises has been closed. Due to personal matters he has been residing in an another house. During this period, he was being issued huge electricity bills. He lodged complaint several times at the section office. As per the instruction from the officials of the section office, wiring has been checked and no leakage of electricity was found. Then as per the - 2 – request of the petitioner, the energy meter was tested with a correct meter and found that the meter was in good condition. But subsequent months, the same was repeated. Based on the repeated requests, the energy meter was replaced with his own cost. The officials of the section office informed him that the previous bills will be revised based on the readings after meter replacement. The petitioner stated that he had paid an excess amount of Rs.12, 000/- during the meter faulty period. So the petitioner prays for relief. 2. The respondent filed a version as follows. The respondent stated that the petitioner has two domestic single phase electric connections under Electrical Section, Manappally. The respondent contended that, on verifying the consumption pattern of the petitioner bearing Consumer No.15427, it is revealed that the petitioner follows an irregular consumption pattern. Its main reason is, the petitioner is using two houses simultaneously. Based on the request of the petitioner, the disputed energy meter was tested with a correct meter and found that the meter was working properly. The respondent also contended that the high units of consumption may be either due to uncontrolled usage of electricity or due to any internal leakage of electricity which was happened beyond the point of supply. Moreover the petitioner convinced and satisfied with the meter test result and he remitted the bills amount without any complaint. The respondent also stated that the changed the energy meter in the premises of the petitioner on 07/09/2019 is not on meter faulty but it was due to damage of meter. - 3 – 3. The case was posted for hearing on 29/01/2020 & 19/02/2019. Both the petitioner and the respondent were present and heard the matter in detail. 4. On going through the petition and other documents in the file, it is seen that the case was with regard to the exorbitant electricity bills was issued to the petitioner by the respondent. The petitioner contended that, from 04/04/2018, the premise was closed. During this period he was issued huge electricity bills. Based on the repeated request of him, the energy meter replaced on 07/09/2019 and the respondent informed to him, that the previous bills will be revised based on the reading after the meter replacement. But which has not been revised so far. 5. The respondent stated that the petitioner has two houses and he is using simultaneously. So, his electricity consumption was irregular pattern. The disputed energy meter was tested with a correct meter and found that the meter was working properly. The disputed meter was changed on 07/09/2019, due to damage of meter. The respondent also stated that the high units of consumption may be either due to uncontrolled usage of electricity or due to any internal leakage of energy which happened beyond the point of supply. 6. On verifying the consumption details of the petitioner, the Forum found that the consumption pattern of the petitioner was varying. As per the direction from the Forum, the respondent conducted a field inquiry and reported that the petitioner is residing the house occasionally since 04/2017 to till date. But during 08/2018 for an amount of Rs.8,847/- for the consumption of 1059 units. Before and after the month of 08/2018, the energy consumption is below 300 units. Moreover, during the hearing the respondent stated that for testing, a correct meter was - 4 – installed in the premises of the petitioner for 6 days from 11/09/2018 to 17/09/2018. Both the meter’s recorded consumption were 18 units. i.e., 3 units per day. 7. Hence the Forum views that the hike in reading in 08/2018 may be due to any transient error of the meter. Moreover the respondent failed to prove that the hike in consumption was due to leakage of electricity in consumer’s premises. Hence the bill issued in 08/2018 for an amount of Rs.8, 847/- is not justifiable. 6. Considering the above facts and evidences, the Forum ordered as follows. I. To revise the bill of 08/2018 based on the average consumption of 06/2018 & 10/2018. Refund/adjust balance amount paid to the petitioner. II. No order as to cost. If the petitioner is not satisfied with the above order of this Forum, he is at liberty to prefer appeal before the Electricity Ombudsman within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order. The address of the Electricity Ombudsman is furnished below. State Electricity Ombudsman, Charangattu Bhavan, Building No.34/895, Mamangalam - Anchumana Road, Edappally, Kochi – 682 024, Ph: 0484 - 2346488. Sd/- Sd/- SURESH.N V.K. MANI EXECUTIVE ENGINEER DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER MEMBER II CHAIRPERSON Forwarded CHAIRPERSON (DEPUTY CHIEF ENGINEER) - 5 – No: CGRF/KTR/OP No.01/2020/58 Dated : 22 /02/2020. Delivered to: 1. Sri. Babu.T,Babu Nivas,Manappally North,Thazhava,Karunagappally. 2. The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, K.S.E. Board Ltd ,Oachira. 3. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Manappally. Copy to:- 1. The Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle, Kollam. 2. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Karunagappally. ________________________________________________________________ Office: CGRF(S), Vydyuthi Bhavanam, Kottarakkara, Pin – 691 506 Web site: cgrf.kseb.in E- mail: [email protected], Phone: 0474 – 2451300.