Download OmbOrd_2009_06_06_Rno_103_of_2009.pdf

Contents : BEFORE THE ELECTRICITY OMBUDSMAN (Appointed by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission under Section 42(6) of the Electricity Act 2003) 606 KESHAVA Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra (East) Mumbai 400 051 Tel. no. 022 2659 2965 / 2659 0339 / 30680528 * Telefax: 022-2659 2965 Website: www.mercombudsman.org.in * Email Id: secretary@mercombudsman.org.in ELECTRICITY OMBUDSMAN Representation 103 of 2009 In the matter of errors in meter reading and billing Shri Dinkar Pandurang Bankar . Appellant V/s Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd . Respondent Present: 1. 2. Shri. W.G. Gorde Electricity Ombudsman Shri. S. N Yadwad Secretary On behalf of the Appellant: 1. None On behalf of the Respondent: 1. Shri. Gautam Gaikwad Dy. Executive Engineer ORDER Date 6th October 2009 Shri Dinkar Pandurang Bankar Appellant in this case has filed this representation on 17th August 2009 and the same is registered at Sr. No. 103 of 2009. The Appellant is a consumer of electricity supplied by M/s Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Respondent). The representation is filed against the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum (in short the Forum) Aurangabad Zone s order issued on 20th July 2009 wherein the Forum accepted the Respondent s proposal canceling the bill of Rs. 28 280/- and raising the revised bill of Rs. 11 980/-. Appellant was directed to pay the said bill within 30 days. The Appellant is not satisfied with the Forum s order and as such preferred this representation. Facts of the case as stated by the Appellant are as under: 2. Appellant says that he was given a bill of Rs. 28 280/- which was cancelled and the revised bill of Rs. 11 980/- is given. The Appellant does not agree with the method in which the said bill was worked out. Initially Respondent raised the bill for December 2008 for 2730 (2877-147) units. Subsequently the bill was revised for 1407 (2877-1470) units. In October and November 2008 Respondent shows average consumption of 270 units but in December 2008 bill was raised for 1407 units. No explanation is given about this. Appellant prays that the revised bill of Rs. 11 980/- should further be reduced to the extent possible. Page 1 of 3 103 of 2009 3. The Appellant further adds that two meters are shown to have been installed at the Appellant s residence although there is only one meter functioning. Appellant became aware of this when the Respondent issued cumulative bill of Rs. 28 280/-. This is clearly Respondent s mistake. Appellant prays to correct the bill and waive the interest. 4. The Respondent filed its written statement of defence on 31st August 2009. It confirms that the Appellant applied to the Forum for rectification of energy bill of December 2008 which was inadvertently charged. The Forum directed to revise the bill from Rs. 28 280/- to Rs. 11 980/-. In the meantime Respondent rectified the Appellant s bill of August 2009 and waived an amount of Rs. 18 834.60. Delayed payment charges and interest of Rs. 1 594.36 is also waived. Thus total amount waived in favour of the Appellant worked out to Rs. 20 428.98. Adjustment for total amount of Rs. 18 652.04 is given to the Appellant through the bill in the month of August 2007. The Respondent further says that Appellant was invited for settlement of disputes as suggested in the notice issued by the Honorable Ombudsman. Upon discussion the Appellant consumer agreed to pay Rs. 10 610/- towards settlement of bill in 3 equal instalments. This facility is extended to the Appellant. Respondent enclosed minutes of the meeting held with the Appellant on 26th August 2009 along with a copy of the Appellant s consent to pay the amount in three installments. In view of this the Respondent prays to close the case. 5. The matter was heard on 06th October 2009. The Appellant did not remain present. Shri Gautam Gaikwad Dy.Executive Engineer represented the Respondent. The matter was taken up for hearing in the light of the joint submission made by the parties to the dispute. Shri Gaikwad explained that they have reached a settlement whereby the bill was revised to Rs. 10610/-. Further facility of payment in three instalments is also given to the Appellant. The Appellant agreed to this settlement. The Respondent submitted original copy of the minutes of the meeting held on 26th August 2009 with the Appellant who has signed the minutes in token of his acceptance. 6. During the hearing it was brought to the notice of the Respondent that the errors in meter reading and billing date back to around two years. The same meter readings are shown for several months and the bills were apparently issued on average basis during the period. In addition Consumer Personal Ledger shows two meters 9000798405 and 9003232469 whereas the Appellant earlier submitted that he h

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