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

BEENA GOPINATH. S : CHAIRPERSON

LEKHA RANI R : MEMBER II

ROBIN PETER : MEMBER III

OP NO.184/2018-19

PETITIONER :

Sri.Pradeep Kumar S.R,Deputy Manager(Projects), M/s Ascend Telecom Infrastructure, Door No.32/2987,II Floor,Salamia Building,Ayisha Road,Eranakulam, Kochi-682 019.

RESPONDENTS :

1. Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, Cherkala,, District-671541

2. Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section,Cherkala, -670101 ORDER

Case of the Petitioner:-

The petitioner, Sri.Pradeep Kumar S.R, Deputy Manager (Projects),M/s Ascend Telecom Infrastructure, Eranakulam district, comes under the jurisdiction of Electrical section Cherkala, complaints about drastic voltage fluctuation in their communication equipments and it could not be put into proper operational capabilities. This is one of the communication infrastructure providers engaged in the construction and maintenance of cellular towers for various telecommunication service providers in the state. One such tower is constructed and being maintained at Chengala under ES Cherkala. The petitioner obtained the service connection after complying all the formalities for getting connection as per prevailing rules.

The consumer number is 1166898035360. Right from the time of getting power connection they have been experiencing severe voltage drop so that their communication equipment could not be put into operation properly. In so many days the very low LT voltage had resulted in the improper functioning of their equipment.

It is understood that the voltage should be maintained by the licensee, under permissible limit and this limit shall be + or – 6% in case of LT. But, they are never getting the required voltage right from the date of getting connection.

The petitioner approached the AE,ES Cherkala and the AEE,ESD Cherkala several times and presented the issue.But the respondents have not taken any action on this issue. It seems they are taking an indifferent approach which results in untold misery and huge

2 financial loss to the petitioner. Thus the complainant approaches the Forum to resolve the issue at the earliest.

Version by the Respondent:-

The written statement filed by the Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division Cherkala on behalf of Respondent 1 and 2.

Consumer number 1166898035360 is a consumer under Electrical Section, Cherkala registered in the name of Boby Sebastian, Circle Head Ascend Telecom Infra Structure (P) Ltd, II floor, Salamiya Building, Ayisha Road, NH By pass, Vytila under VI F tariff for mobile communication tower, on 24-6-2016. At that time the connection was taken for 9 KW connected load.

The connected load of this consumer was increased to 12.16KW on 05-4-2017 as per their request. The average energy consumption of this consumer up to the connected load enhancement was 1796 units/month, where as after the connected load enhancement the average energy consumption increased to 4550 units/month, which shows that there was considerable energy consumption by the consumer. Hence the argument of the consumer that their communication equipment could not be put in to operation properly due to voltage drop is not correct. A copy of the profile of the consumer is enclosed here with as Exb.1 for the kind consideration of the Hon’ble Forum.

KSE Board Ltd. is committed to provide most efficient supply of energy to its consumers and has initiated necessary action in this regard. In this location a work has been started to install a 100 KVA transformer under PMU work for providing better supply of electricity to the consumers. The statement of the consumer that the

3 respondents have not taken any action on this issue is contrary to the facts.

Statement of the consumer that their equipment could not be properly put in to use due to insufficient voltage is not true. It is evident from the energy consumption pattern that the equipments have been put into use and a considerable quantity of energy has been consumed by the consumer in every month.

From the above statements it is humbly submitted that the licensee has taken action to provide electrical supply to the consumer according to its requirement and enhanced connected load as per their request. It has also taken steps to provide better quality of electric supply by starting a PMU work for installing transformer in this area. There fore it is humbly prayed that the petition may kindly be dismissed.

Discussion, analysis and findi ngs :-

The hearing of the case was convened on 02.5.2019 and both the representative of petitioner and the respondent was present.

The petition is with regard to drastic drop of voltage from some time ago. There were several representations from the part of petitioner for its improvement but to no avail, it is alleged. The petitioner has surreptitiously concealed the primary/important evidence/fact that they had enhanced the connected load. Unless sufficient voltage in the distribution network was already available no question arise of

4 enhancement of connected load from 9 KW to 12.16 KW which took place on 05.4.2017. Hence the statement put forward by the petitioner that there had been drastic low voltage in their premises does not corroborate with the factual evidences. Their entire equipment after enhancement might have not been made operational owing to drop in voltage .

The Regulation 4 of Electricity Supply Code 2014 enunciates to develop and maintain a distribution system for providing uninterrupted supply of good quality of electricity irrespective of the fact that the consumer is from rural or urban area. In the present scenario, the licensee has geared up measures for installing a 100 KVA transformer under PMU work for giving quality electricity to the consumers of the above locality.

As the respondent is duty bound to provide better flow of qualitative electricity, the Forum decided to direct the respondent to develop the infrastructure required within the assessed period of 3 months itself.

DECISION:-

1. The petition is closed. 2. The licensee is directed to ensure the proposed work is completed within the stipulated period and uninterrupted quality power is supplied as propounded in the Regulation.

Dated this the 17 th day of May, 2019

Sd/- Sd/- Sd/-

Robin Peter Lekharani R. Beena Gopinath S. Member III Member II Chairperson Endt.on CGRF-NR/OP /184/2018-19 / 109 dated : 17 - 5-2019 5 Forwarded to:

1) Sri. Pradeep Kumar S.R, Deputy Manager(Projects) Ascend Telecom Infrastructure, Door No.32/2987,II Floor,Salamiya Building, Ayisha Road,Eranakulam, Kochi-682019.

2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Cherkala, Kasargod 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, Kasaragod. 4. The Assistant Engineer, Forwarded Electrical Section Cherkala, Sd/- KSEB Ltd., Kasaragod District. Chairperson

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