PSPCL told to pay Rs 8,000 to consumer

BOX: ‘Power corporation did not follow procedure’

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum said PSPCL had sought an amount of around Rs1.27 lakh from the complainant for an inoperative shunt capacitor without following the proper procedure.

Setting aside the demand for Rs1.27, the forum said that the opposite party is at liberty to follow the proper procedure.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 24

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to pay Rs5,000 as compensation and Rs3,000 as litigation expenses to a local consumer. The forum said PSPCL had sought an amount of around Rs1.27 lakh from the complainant for an inoperative shunt capacitor without following the proper procedure.

Setting aside the demand for Rs1.27, the forum said that the opposite party is at liberty to follow the proper procedure.

Earlier, Balwinder Singh, a business operator on the Chabal road, had filed a complaint against PSPCL with the forum. In his complaint, Balwinder said he had obtained a power connection under the small industrial supply category from PSPCL.

The complainant alleged that on February 19, he had received a bill for Rs1,27,460. He added that Rs1,01,989 and Rs8,305 were added under the heads of sundry charges and arrears, respectively. In his complaint, he said, “The opposite party had claimed that the amount is being charged on account of an inoperative shunt capacitor and it was claimed on the instructions of an audit party. But, I neither received any separate notice regarding the removal of the defective shunt capacitor nor I was ever informed by any official about it.”

The counsel for the complainant said according to the rules, if the shunt capacitor were found to be missing or inoperative or damaged, a 15-day notice shall be issued to the consumer for rectification of the defect.

The opposite party in its reply stated that the connection was checked by a team of an audit party. PSPCL said a notice was issued to the consumer who had neither filed any objections nor challenged the demand.

Relying on instructions in the Electricity Supply Instructions Manual, the forum stated that PSPCL has failed to follow its own manual. It further stated that it has also not proven that the notice was issued to the complainant.