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

LEKHARANI R : MEMBER II

OP NO.90/2019-20

P ETITIONER :

Smt. Nafeesa Kunhimoideen, Kannanchery House, Athanikkal, Vailathur, Ponmundam – P.O., District – 673 521.

RESPONDENTS : 1. Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, East, . 2. Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, KSEB Ltd, Ponmundam, Malappuram District. ORDER

Case of the Petitioner:- The petitioner Smt.Nafeesa Kunhi Moideen, Athanikkal,Ponmundam, Malappuram District comes under the jurisdiction of Electrical Section Ponmundam complains that the meter has been malfunctioning for the last 10 months and the requests for replacement of the same is utterly neglected. The petitioner argues that consumption being very low as there is no occupancy, the bills issued regularly are very high stating they are average in nature. The petitioner though repeatedly approached the licensee in this connection it did not find any efficacious results. Hence the Forum is sought to advise the licensee in taking necessary corrective steps.

Version by the Respondent:-

The complainant Smt.Nafeesa Kunhimoideen is a registered consumer under Ponmundam Electrical Section with the consumer number as 1165709000796. The meter in the premises was found suspected faulty on 15.12.2018 and the bills generated by the system was in the average consumption of 411 units. Based on the complaint of the petitioner lodged in 03/2019, the average consumption was further computed and arrived at 300 units and billed accordingly. It was mentioned in the complaint that number of occupants are comparatively less and not informed that there is no occupancy at all.

The old faulty meter could be replaced with a new one only on 14.10.2019 as flawless meters were not available. The moment meter became readily available it was changed there itself. The bill

2 was subsequently issued based on the average consumption of 6 months prior to the defective nature of the meter. The consumption during the above period is as follows:

06/2018 - 248 units

08/2018 - 384 units

10/2018 - 600 units

Total - 1232 units

Average bimonthly consumption = 1232/3 = 411 units

From the above it is understood that consumption of electricity occurred in the premises and the bill was computed average when it was intimated that some occupants had left already from the premises. The respondent avers before the Hon’ble Forum that the request for replacing the meter was considered actively and on receipt it was changed sans any delay. As such the allegation of the petitioner may be discarded and issue a befitting order.

Discussion, analysis and findi ngs :-

The hearing of the case was convened on 12.11.2019. The respondent was present and the petitioner was absent.

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 dispute of the petitioner is with regard to high electricity bill being issued to the petitioner based on previous average since the meter installed in the premises is faulty for the

3 past 10 months . The respondent failed to replace the faulty meter in spite of several requests from the consumer.

The respondent replaced the faulty meter on 14/10/2019 and their version for the delay in replacement is shortage of sufficient meters for replacing all faulty meters existing in the system.

Before hearing, the petitioner sent an e-mail communication to the Forum stating that her grievance is solved as the faulty meter is replaced with good one. Accordingly the complaint is closed.

DECISION:-

The petition is treated as closed.

Dated this the 16 th day of Nov, 2019

Sd/- Sd/- Lekharani R Beena Gopinath. S

Member II Chairperson.

Endt.on CGRF-NR/OP 90/2019-20/ 490 dtd: 16/11/2019

Forwarded to: 1) Smt. Nafeesa Kunhimoideen, If the petitioner is not satisfied with the above order Kannanchery House, of this Forum, she is at liberty to prefer appeal Athanikkal, before State Electricity Ombudsman, Charangattu Vailathur, Bhavan Building No.34/895,Mamangalam,Anchumana Ponmundam – P.O., Road, Edapally,-682024 (Ph: 04842346488) Malappuram District – 673 521 within 30 days from the date of receipt of this order.

2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Tirur(East), Malappuram District-676107.

Copy submitted to: Chief Engineer (Distribution –North) Kozhikode.

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

2. Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle, Tirur. 3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Tirur. Forwarded 4. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Ponmundam, Sd/- KSEB Ltd., Malappuram District. Chairperson

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