DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION, KANDHAMAL, PHULBANI

C.C.NO. 62 OF 2022

                                                                              Date of Filing: 01.11.2022

                    Date of Order: 01.05.2023

Sri Santanu Patra,

S/o- Late Laba Patra,

At/Po-Majhipada, GP-Kasinipadar, Phiringia

District-Kandhamal PIN-762011     ……………….. Complainant.

Versus.

          The Assistant Executive Engineer,

Southco Utility,

Phiringia Division

District-Kandhamal                  …………………….. Opp. Party.

Present: Sri Purna Chandra Mishra    - President.

                        Sri Sudhakar Senapothi          - Member.

For the Complainant       : Self

For O.P.                             : Self

JUDGEMENT

Mr. Purna Chandra Mishra, President.

Complainant Santanu Patra has filed this case alleging deficiency of service on the part of the Opposite Party for providing him with his erratic energy bill disproportionate to his actually use and praying therein for direction to the Opposite Party to provide him with a correct energy bill so as to enable him to pay his energy charges.

1.       Brief fact leading to the case is that the complainant is a domestic consumer and is a person below the poverty line who was provided with power supply under Kutir Jyoti Scheme in the year 2012 bearing Consumer Account No. 12921032487. He was regularly paying his dues as per his actually use and was regularly depositing a sum of Rs. 80/- per month as per the bill provided to him. Suddenly on 22.02.2022, he was served with an energy bill wherein he was directed to deposit a sum of Rs. 15,297.22p towards energy charges. On receiving this bill, presuming it to be a mechanical error, he went to the officer of the Opposite Party. But the Opposite Party is sitting over his application and is attempting to collect the said amount by using pressure tactics for which he has filed this case before this Commission for the relief as discussed above.

2.       After receipt of the notice, the Opposite Party appeared in person and filed his reply in shape of Memo. In his Memo, he stated that the complainant is enjoying electricity and rectification of energy bill is subject to revision of bill as per current reading consumption pattern followed by departmental procedures. The energy bill of the consumer has already been revised in the month of November-2022 and the revised bill with adjustment of Rs. 5408.26p is served to the consumer on 13.12.2022 for payment of balance energy charges of Rs. 11899.86p.

3.       The complainant in support of the case has filed a copy of Ration Card, copy of the energy bills, copy of the bills issued by the licensee and his evidence by way of affidavit. On the other hand, the Opposite Party has filed copy of the revised statement of the account in support of his case.

4.       In view of the pleadings and counter pleadings of the party, it is to be determined whether the revision made by the Opposite Party is correct or not and whether the petition is entitled for any relief or not ?

The Opposite Party in his Memo first stated that he has already revised a sum of Rs. 5408.26p from the energy bill for the month of November 2022. It is seen from the energy bill for the month of November 2021 that the consumer has been billed for 2471 units and the total bill is 15297.22p. It is also seen from the same bill that it is the bill for that month only. We are astonished how such huge reading was recorded by the Opposite Party when the complainant belongs to BPL category and has availed power supply under Kutir Jyoti Yojana. It is also seen from the previous bills that he is paying Rs. 80/- per month. The Opposite Party is completely silent as to how such huge units have been recorded against his use and under what circumstances, a sum of Rs. 5408/- was deducted from his bill. Since the reason of reduction has not billed specified, it is clear that the Opposite Party enhanced the bill very carelessly and also did not revise it properly and has put the complainant to an embarrassing position. So, I am satisfied that the bill for the month of November-2021 has been prepared in a very careless and haphazard manner not confirming to the provision of Electricity Act-2003 and rules and regulations made thereunder and a case of deficiency in service is made out against the Opposite Party. Hence, the order.

                                                                                           O R D E R

The complaint petition is allowed on contest against the Opposite Party. The Opposite Party is directed to revise the bill for the period from 26.12.2021 to 07.02.2022 for Rs. 15297.22/-. The Opp.Party is directed to take the average reading of preceding six months and prepare and revise the bill accordingly. Parties to bear his own cost.

                                                         Computerized & corrected by me.

         I Agree

     MEMBER                                                       PRESIDENT

Pronounced in the open Commission today on this 1st day of May 2023 in the presence of the parties.  

     MEMBER                                                       PRESIDENT