SDO to shell out Rs 5,000 for issuing wrong electricity bill

Gurbaz averred that he visited the SDO,Division 9,a number of times for correction of bill but in vain.

Fearing disconnection,he issued a cheque dated February 4,2009,for Rs 11,531 but the Sampark Centre allegedly refused to accept the cheque.

He issued another cheque dated February 16 for Rs 4,336 and thus the amount of both the cheques was Rs 15,867,i.e.,the billed amount.

The Sampark Centre officials,however,refused to accept the payment again,it was alleged.

In their reply,the department submitted that the electricity bill of Rs 11,531 included Rs 5,679 as the current electricity bill from September 10 to November 10,2008 and Rs 5,549 as sundry charges being charged from July 10,2007 to September 3,2008.

It was also stated that the complainant submitted a representation to the department on February 4,2009 for correction of bill which was due on December 19,2008 and payment after the due date was acceptable only through cash or DD as per the rules.

The Electricity department also submitted that the complainant insisted on paying by cheque which is not allowed.

It was pleaded that the complainant’s supply was also not disconnected though he had not made any payment till date.

The forum observed that though the rules are very clear in this respect that the department can charge for a period of six months only and it had adopted an unfair trade practice by charging the consumers wrongly.