Forum quashes Rs 41K sundry charges imposed in power bill

Tribune News Service

Advertisement

Chandigarh, April10

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has set aside and quashed sundry charges imposed on a consumer in an electricity bill.

In a complaint to the forum, Savitri Aghi (64), a resident of Sector 5, Panchkula, stated that she owned a flat in Sector 50-D, Chandigarh, which remained on lease from time to time.

The complainant received an electricity bill of Rs 44,111 for the period from September 28 to November 25 last year, which included Rs 41,866 as sundry charges as “meter ran slow from November 25, 2017, to September 28, 2018. In August last year, the meter installed at the house was burnt, so a new meter was installed on September 28.

The SDO (Electricity), Sector 43-A, informed the complainant that Rs 41,866 had been charged on the basis of average consumption (from November 2016 to September 2017) and the amount of sundry charges was for the period from November 25, 2017 to September 28, 2018.

The complainant submitted that the house remained on lease with different tenants and a request was made to the SDO to correct the bill, but to no avail.

In its reply, the Electricity Department stated that following the change of the meter of the complainant’s flat, it was required to overhaul the account to find out short assessment, if any. It was found that there was a huge difference between the consumption from November 25, 2016, to September 25, 2017 (9,150 units) and November 25, 2017, to July 25, 2018 (1,149 units). Therefore, it was concluded that the meter was defective from November 2017 and accordingly, the assessment was made from November 25, 2017, to September 28, 2018.

After carefully examining the entire evidence on record, the forum stated that the domestic electricity meter was burnt on September 10, 2018, and the consumer accordingly reported the same to the Electricity Department. Before this date, there was no inspection or any official report regarding any defect in the meter. The opposite party, without any substantial and supporting evidence or report of any of its field official/meter reader, had compared the units consumed.

The pattern of consumption of electricity can never be constant throughout the year or the corresponding next year. The consumption is bound to vary. In many cases, the consumer learns to use less electricity or with intent to save money by avoiding unnecessary electricity consumption.

The forum found that the Electricity Department was deficient in service by imposing unit charges only just by drawing an assumption from the corresponding period of the previous year and set aside and quashed the electricity charges imposed on the complainant.