‘Suppressed’ power consumption lands PSPCL officer in soup

Balwant Garg
Tribune News Service
Faridkot, January 25

An alleged case of showing ‘suppressed’ electricity usage at his residence by a senior officer of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) has landed him in a difficult situation.

The Enforcement Wing of PSPCL has already sealed the electricity reading meter at the residence of MPS Dhillon, Superintending Engineer-cum-Deputy Chief Engineer, at Ferozepur and has sent it to the metering laboratory at Moga to check the details of the power consumption pattern at the officer’s residence. Meanwhile, Dhillon has alleged that it was a plot of some of his ‘detractors’ in the Corporation to obstruct his promotion, due in the next one week.

On January 11, PSPCL Enforcement Wing teams from Ludhiana and Muktsar checked the power supply to Dhillon’s residence where the power consumption pattern raised suspicion. In the last one year, the consumption patterns were recorded at 437, 352, 248, 380, 380 and 390 units for two months each. However, in the bill of October 2018, the power consumption was showed at 6,047 units for two months.

A notice was served upon Dhillon, asking him to reach the metering lab at Moga on January 14 for the inspection of the electricity meter in his presence. As per the practice, sealed meters are opened in the metering lab by Enforcement Wing in the presence of the consumer.

However, Dhillon informed the office that he was suffering from some medical problem, so he could not make it to Moga for the inspection.

On January 14, the PSPCL sent him another notice, asking him to reach Moga on January 21. However, Dhillon claimed the attending doctor had already recommended him rest for more days, so he was unable to reach Moga on January 21 also.

The PSPCL authorities in Ferozepur have now sent Dhillon another notice, asking him to reach Moga on January 28.

Gopal Sharma, chief engineer, PSPCL Enforcement Wing, refused to share any information about the case, saying the matter was under investigation.

Meanwhile, in a letter sent to the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of the PSPCL, Power Minister and senior officers in the Enforcement Wing, MPS Dhillon has demanded that the checking of the electricity meter be handed over to the enforcement officers other than those of Ludhiana and Muktsar.

Inconsistency raised suspicion

• On January 11, PSPCL Enforcement Wing teams from Ludhiana and Muktsar checked the power supply to Dhillon’s residence where the power consumption pattern raised suspicion
• In the last one year, the consumption patterns were recorded at 437, 352, 248, 380, 380 and 390 units for two months each
• However, in the bill of October 2018, the power consumption was showed at 6,047 units for two months.