1. Case of the complainant is that he is a consumer of FESCO an agricultural tube-well with 10 horse power electricity motor is installed at his premises to irrigate the crop. In the month of October, 2011 respondents served electricity bill amounting to Rs. 26518/- in excess of actual consumption.
2. Inspite of repeated visits of the offices of the respondents the grievance of the complainant was not redressed.
3. Respondents pursuant to the notice issued by this court appeared today and stated before the court that in the month of October electricity TOD meter installed become defective to extant of recording consumption according to time whereas the total consumption recorded was properly shown. He further stated that to rule out the discrepancy and dispute a check meter has already been installed at the same premises which recorded the same consumption of electricity as shown by TOD meter. Counsel for the complainant has expressed its satisfaction to the charging of tariff on the basis of average of the correspondence month of last year. The bill has now been paid and no grievance remained unredressed, however, when the consumer/claimant has filed an application in the FESCO office for redresall of his grievances FESCO authorities were not justified to charge Rs. 2190/- as LP surcharge unless until the application of consumer remained pending.
4. Therefore, the receipt of Rs. 2190/- by the FESCO from the complainant is declared unlawful and unjustified.
5. FESCO/respondents are directed to adjust this amount by giving credit to the complainant in the next month billing without fail and replace the defective meter immediately without charging its cost to the complainant. Respondent No. 02 is also directed to arrange for provision of meter reading card wherein the meter reading shall be described by the concerned meter reader regularly. Compliance report shall be submitted before this court within 30 days. The complaint is disposed off. File be consigned to record room after due completion.