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

PRESENT

BEENA GOPINATH. S : CHAIRPERSON

ROBIN PETER : MEMBER

OP No.105/2020-21

PETITIONER :

Smt.Safiyath T.C, Pilicode, P.O, District-671313

RESPONDENTS :

1. Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, Pilicode,-671310

2. Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Pilicode, Kannur District-671310 ORDER

Case of the Petitioner:-

The petitioner, Smt.Safiyath T.C, Cheruvathur, Kasaragod district, owner of a mill bearing consumer No.1166987004374 comes under the jurisdiction of Electrical Section Pilicode, complaints about the issuance of an exorbitant bill to the tune of Rs29,633/- following an inspection conducted by the APTS team stating the reason that current is missing in ‘B’ phase . The arrears calculated from 11/2019 to 10/2020 revealed that nearly 390 units were not recorded during the above period which is also mentioned in the site mahassar. The petitioner is of the view that the aforesaid reading noted by the KSEB authorities is contrary to the real consumption which is always more than 1000 units. She has expressed her anguish that the sow mill had functioned hardly up to Jan 2020 and it could be confirmed from the previous readings.

Due to Covid 19 the pandemic, as the mill was not at all functioned regularly the consumption is found to be very low. The petitioner can not be blamed responsible for the connection having been removed from the meter. That is not the actual reason for decreasing the consumption. It is mentioned in the site mahassar that relevant data in the meter is secured properly and on analyzing the real picture can be revealed.

Thus the pray of the complainant is to issue fresh bill based on correct meter data report or scrutinizing the previous readings from 01/2020 onwards and to cancel the short assessment bill of Rs29,633/- issued on 25.11.2020. The petitioner is forced to approach the Forum as no favorable action was initiated from the electrical section Pilicode.

2 Version by the Respondent:-

APTS unit,Kasargod conducted a surprise inspection at the premises of consumer No.1166987004374 LT IV A in the name of Smt.T.C.Safiyath on 21.11.2020. Site mahassar is attached herewith. Since current was missing in 1 phase, 1/3 rd of the actual consumption was not recording in the energy meter. Short assessment bill prepared by the Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section Pilicode for the balance consumption for one year and the calculation statement of which is attached. Also consumption for 03/2020 to 04/2020 was 760 units and bill was prepared in proportionate to that low consumption only. In this statement, consumption for one year from 11/2019 to 10/2020 is clearly mentioned. Tamper report downloaded during the APTS inspection.

Discussion, analysis and findi ngs :-

The hearing of the case was convened on 15.1.2021 through call conference. The petitioner’s representative and the respondent attended hearing.

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

The petitioner is aggrieved by a short assessment bill issued by licensee for Rs29,633/- on 25.11.2020. The bill is issued consequent to a site inspection conducted by APTS unit on 21.11.2020. Site 3 mahassar is prepared by the Sub Engineer and it is witnessed by the petitioner. All these facts are not disputed. The dispute is only with regard to the short assessment bill prepared back assessing up to 12/2019. According to the respondent the bill is issued assessing the cost of unrecorded portion of energy due to missing of current input to meter in one phase.

The respondent produced meter down loaded data from the meter and in that no ‘current missing’ has been recorded. The AEE requested time to obtain data downloaded by the APTS team. Hence the Forum allowed 2 weeks time to produce Tamper Data report downloaded from the meter. The respondent produced the same as on 25.1.2021.

On analyzing the tamper report it is found that ‘B’ phase CT opening occurred in 3/2020 and continued up to 8/2020.

Thus it can be conclusively established that the one phase ‘current’ missing started in 3/2020. Also the consumption pattern of 2/2020,1/2020,12/2019 and 11/2019 reveals that there is no considerable reduction in consumption.

Thus, time period for short assessment is known exactly, there is no need to extent the assessment to one year period. The estimation of KSEBL that the unrecorded portion of energy as 50% of the recorded consumption is technically correct.

4 The consumer is liable to pay the cost of energy consumed by him. Here the KSEBL has demanded only the charges for energy lost in the recording of the meter.

Regulation 134(1) envisages the licensee to recover these charges. The regulation is reproduced as here under.

If the licensee establishes either by review or otherwise, that it has under charged the consumer, the licensee may recover the amount so undercharged from the consumer by issuing a bill and in such cases at least 30 days shall be given to the consumer for making payment of the bill.

In the above circumstances the Forum decides to direct the licensee to revise the short assessment bill for a period of 8 months,i.e. 10/20 to 03/20 only.

The petitioner may be allowed 12 equal installments without interest for remittance.

The petition is disposed off accordingly.

DECISION:-

1. The petition is allowed.

2. The bill issued for Rs29,633/- on 28.11.2020 is quashed. The respondent shall revise the bill as ordered.

Dated this the 5 th day of Feb, 2021 Sd/- Sd/- Robin Peter Beena Gopinath S. Member Chairperson

Endt.on CGRF-NR/OP /105/2020-21/ 328 dated : 10 - 2-2021 5 Forwarded to:

1) Smt.Safiyath T.C, Pilicode,, Cheruvathur P.O, Kasaragaod-671351.

2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Pilicode, Kasaragode District.

Copy submitted to: Chief Engineer (Distribution –North Malabar ) , Kannur

Copy to: 1. The Secretary, KSEB Ltd., Vydyuthibhavanam, Thiruvananthapuram.

2. Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle, Kasaragod 3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, .

4. The Assistant Engineer, Forwarded Electrical Section Pilicode, Sd/- KSEB Ltd., Kasaragod District. Chairperson

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