Rap by CGRF drives UT power dept into action

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune news service
Chandigarh, April 22

The Electricity Department, UT, which has been denying meters to hundreds of consumers who complained of burnt meters while seeking replacement, has installed one within two days of a direction of the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (CGRF).

The forum has also sought the records of purchase of electricity meters from the department.

Dilbag Rai Sharma, the owner of booth number 815 at the motor market in Mani Majra, had approached the department to replace the meter of his shop after it was burnt in November 2017.

On May 14, 2018, he had filed a complaint before the department. However, the latter asked him to buy a meter from the market.

The complainant sent a reminder to the department in February this year. On finding no response from power officials, Sharma filed a petition before the CGRF on March 12.

During the hearing, the department stated that it did not have any meter and asked the consumer to replace it after buying from the companies.

On April 10, the CGRF directed the department to change the defective meter of the complainant within 21 days. The CGRF also directed the department to bring the records of the meters purchased by it.

The department was also directed to file a reply after replacing the electricity meter of the complainant.

Acting on the direction, the department replaced the meter at the complainant’s shop on April 12.

It is pertinent to mention here that shortage of electricity meters has badly hit consumers in the city, who are being forced to buy the device from the market by paying more than double the price at which the department had been supplying it in the past.

The complaint

• Dilbag Rai Sharma, the owner of booth number 815 at the Mani Majra motor market, had approached the department to replace the meter of his shop after it was burnt in November 2017
• On May 14, 2018, he had filed a complaint before the department. However, the latter asked him to buy a meter from the market. He sent a reminder to the department in February this year 
• On finding no response from power officials, Sharma filed a petition before the CGRF on March 12
• On April 10, the CGRF directed the department to change the defective meter within 21 days. However, the department replaced it on April 12