BANGALORE: The ombudsman appointed by the KERC has come to the rescue of a consumer who was billed a whopping Rs 23,168 for electricity consumption by the Bescom.
K S Sethna, a resident of Devanahalli was billed Rs 23,168 for consuming 4,842 units of electricity in June, 2007. Sethna was made to pay an initial amount of Rs 14,000 in two instalments with an understanding that the matter will be looked into and the bills would be revised.
However, no remedial action was taken and finally the Bescom disconnected electric supply to his house in January without any notice, following which the Sethna approached the Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum. The CGRF ordered to restore the connection; however, it held that the bills were in order.
Sethna appealed to the Ombudsman on the grounds that the CGRF had failed to consider the documentary evidence placed before it before coming to a conclusion and also that the CGRF did not consider the illegal disconnection of electricity to Sethna’s house. The Ombudsman arrived at the decision that the consumer was liable to pay only Rs 422 to Bescom following which, both parties filed a joint memo agreeing to the ombudsman’s decision.
Kundapur resident gets relief
It took a jaw-dropping 1813 days for Lacchi Poojararthi, a resident of Kundapur, to get electricity connection.
Lacchi had applied for electricity connection in February 2002. The MESCOM could not give connection to her as one of her neighbours had objected to the service line passing through her compound.
Finally, she was given electricity supply in January 2007. Lacchi, then approached the MESCOM asking for payment of an amount of Rs 3,62,600 at the rate of Rs 200 per day for a delay of 1813 days in giving connection.
MESCOM, however, said that it was not their fault as the applicant was responsible to get consent from her neighbour to draw the service line. Lacchi approached CGRF, which in turn dismissed her complaint saying that there is no intentional delay or failure to achieve the standards of performance following which Lacchi approached the ombudsman.
The ombudsman passed an order stating that the complainant is entitled to get an amount of Rs 2,600 for failure to meet the KERC regulations for 13 days. It quashed the other claims as it found that MESCOM could not be held responsible for the delay of the rest of the 1,800 days.
The Rs 2,600 should be adjusted against Lacchi’s electricity bills, the ombudsman had directed MESCOM. However, Lacchi has again approached the ombudsman saying that MESCOM has asked her to foot the bill.
“I have wr i t ten to MESCOM MD seeking clarification,” said S D Ukkali, Ombudsman, KERC.