Pune: Consumer Forum Orders MSEDCL To Pay Rs 35,000 Compensation For Extorting Exorbitant Electricity Bills
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 19th June 2021: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum on Friday ordered the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) to pay Rs 35,000 to a techie for extorting excess bills. The power utility has also been directed to refund the excess bill amount paid.
Sumit Jolly from Haryana, who lived in Mundhwa, had moved the consumer forum in 2017 as MSEDCL neither rectified the bills nor refund any excess payment even after repeated complaints. The MSEDCL had cut the electricity connection to his flat nine times to force him to pay the exorbitant bills.
Also ReadPune: Doctor’s Workout In Saree Takes Internet By Storm, Video Goes Viral On Social Media
As per the complaint, Jolly’s 2BHK rented flat in a housing society has a three-phase connection. There is a single CFL in each room, four ceiling fans, one refrigerator, and one oven in the kitchen, one flat TV of 45″ in the bedroom, one washing machine of 6.5 kgs and one geyser in the bathroom, 1.5 ton AC in the master bedroom. The complainant is residing with his wife and one child. He and his wife work as software engineers. They leave the flat at 8.30 am and come back at 8.30 pm.
Complainant paid the electricity bills continuously from February 2011 till March 2012, thereafter for the month of April 2012 to September 2012; he did not receive the bills. Meanwhile, in October 2012, he received a bill of Rs 49,060.
According to the forum, till march 2012 there was variation in the amount of bills such as in the month February 2012 the bill was Rs 350 (62 unit), in March 2012 the bill was Rs 2954.82 including Rs 2600 arrears. The complainant also produced on record receipts of Rs 35000 dated 6th November 2012, Rs 10,000 dated 10th January 2013, Rs 10,000 dated 24th October 2013, Rs 10,950 dated 28 March 2014 issued by MSEDCL. The bills issued in April, May, June, July, August, September of 2012 were issued exorbitantly without clarification of calculation and it amounts to deficiency in service.
Also Read Maharashtra Government Cuts Registration Fee For Mortgages By 50%
Even after receiving notice from the forum, MSEDCL did not file its version.
The forum president Umesh Jawalikar, members Sangeeta Deshmukh and Kshitija Kulkarni directed MSEDCL to scrutinize the meter, bills, electricity supply/flow in the flat, the usage and accordingly the rectification/alteration be made regarding electricity supply, electricity meter and bills.
The order further states after rectification /alteration in regard to electricity supply/ electricity meter in the said flat, MSEDCL shall award average bills comparing bills issued in the month of 10/12/2012 to 02/12/2013 excluding exorbitant bills dated 02/05/2013 and 02/08/2013. If the complainant had made excess payment in regard to average bills, MSEDCL must refund the excess amount to the complainant.
The forum has directed MSEDCL to pay Rs 35,000 towards physical and economical agony.
