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 R. LEKHA RANI : MEMBER II OP NO. 125/2019-20 PETITIONERS :- 1. Sri. Johns Joseph, (Jr. Co-Operative Instructor), Manelil, Sakthi Quarters, Mooppanad, Meppadi, Wayanad District. RESPONDENTS :- 1. Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Kalpetta, Wayanad District. 2. Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, KSEB Ltd., Meppadi, Wayanad District ORDER Case of the Petitioner:- The petitioner, Sri. Johns Joseph, (Jr.Co-operative Inspector), Manelil, Mooppanad, Meppadi, Wayanad District comes under the jurisdiction of Electrical Section Meppadi bearing consumer number 1165886025796 with connected load 1035 watts complaints that there is a kind of vibration in the light emitted by LED bulbs in all the rooms every now and then but not throughout. The petitioner registered a complaint at Meppadi Electricity office regarding this on 14/01/2020. The employee of the KSEB Ltd., taken down their complaint and told him that they will take care of it and solve the problem on the very next day but, didn’t happen. The petitioner made several calls on next days in this regard and got the same reply. The petitioner told them that the same issue existed in a severe manner when they shifted here in August 2019, and was resolved by clearing the Bogain villa bushes that covered the pole from which the connection is given. Now the pole is in the same state, covered by bushes. When the petitioner indicated this on phone, the reply they got ‘Clearing bushes is not a part of our job’. The petitioner did not respond to that in the same manner only because they respect the physical labour and risk nature of the job they carry out, being another public servant in another government department and also being part of an employee organization, and also in the hope that things may get done soon. Unfortunately, the problem persists and the pole is in the same condition. The petitioner attached the photograph of the pole from which the connection is given. 2 The petitioner humbly prays the Hon’ble Forum that their grievance contains public interest as well since there is high chance of POWER DRAIN and also misbehavior and negligence towards their customer. Version by the respondent:- The consumer number 1165886025796 under Electrical section Meppady was registered in the name of Sri. Saju Sakthi Quarters Moopanad under LT IA tariff with a sanctioned load of 1035 W. It is learnt as admitted by the petitioner that the service connection is now being used by the petitioner himself. The petitioner had lodged a complaint regarding voltage fluctuation on 14/01/2020 at the Electrical Section office. The complaint was allocated to the staff of office for rectification and as per records it is seen as rectified, at least for the time being, but somehow the issue again crept in thereafter as well prompting the petitioner to move ahead with the complaint. The matter was gone unnoticed till the inception of this petition. On receipt of this petition the Respondent paid a visit to the electrical section office on 11/02/2020. The issues of attending phone calls with etiquettes were discussed in the meeting. Strict instructions were given to the staff to attend the calls with politeness and patience. The issue described in the petition was also looked into and appropriate actions have already been taken to clear the bushes grown 3 over and around the PSC Pole. The matter was also convinced to the petitioner from respondent’s office. As the issues narrated in the petition were already addressed and fixed it is humbly prayed before the Hon’ble Forum that the petition may please be treated as closed. Discussion, analysis and findings:- Hearing of the case was convened on 06/03/2020. The petitioner did not attend but the respondent was present in the 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 complaint raised in the petition is regarding non clearance of touchings / over hangings on the post installed near to the premises of the petitioner. The petitioner argues that the flickering of LED bulb in his house is due to the above vegetation over crowded on the post and section office authorities are not paying any care to his request for clearing the same. The petitioner produced photographs as proof of his argument. The respondent as per their version admits the fact that the growth of creepers up to the top of the PSC pole went unnoticed till the inception of complaint by the petitioner. The growth of vegetation is cut and removed and the fact is convinced to the petitioner. 4 It is the duty of the licensee to maintain the ‘right of way’ of each line by clearing touching/over hangings etc in time, and for doing the same ‘inception of a complaint’ from public is necessitated seems unfair. The petitioner remained absent for hearing even though notice is sent to his address and information passed to him through the owner of the building who is the registered consumer. The Forum view that the respondent has taken necessary steps in redressing the complaint and as such nothing remains to be done more and this authority is not competent to take action against misbehavior of the staff of the licensee and the petitioner is free to approach higher officers of KSEBL for remedy. Accordingly the petition is closed. DECISION:- The petition is closed. th Dated this the 16 day of Mar, 2020. Sd/- Sd/- R.Lekharani. Beena Gopinath.S Member II Chairperson. Endt.on CGRF-NR /OP 125/ 2019-20 / 658 / 16 . 03.2020. Forwarded to: 1) Sri. Johns Joseph, If the petitioner is not satisfied with the above order of this (Jr.Co-op Instructor), Forum, he is at liberty to prefer appeal before the State Manelil, Electricity Ombudsman, Charangattu Bhavan Building No. Sakthi Quarters, 34/895, Mamangalam- Anchumana Road, Edappally, Cochin – Mooppanad, 682024 (Ph: 0484 2346488) within 30 days from date of Meppadi, receipt of this order. Wayanad District. 5 2) The Assistant Executive Engineer, Electrical Sub Division, KSEB Ltd, Kalpetta, Wayanad District. Copy submitted to: - Chief Engineer (Distribution – North), Kozhikode. Copy to: 1. The Secretary, KSEB Ltd., Vydyuthibhavanam, Thiruvananthapuram. 2. Deputy Chief Engineer, Electrical Circle, Kalpetta, Wayanad District. 3. The Executive Engineer, Electrical Division, Kalpetta, KSEB Ltd, Wayanad . Forwarded 4. The Assistant Engineer, Electrical Section, Meppadi, Sd/- KSEB Ltd, Wayanad District. Chairperson. 6 .