1. Case of the complainant is that electricity connection bearing reference No. 14-13428-04172020 U has installed at his residence in the name of Sajida Shahnawaz and he is a bonafie consumer of FESCO. In the month of June 2011 and July 2011 he was served electricity bill of an exorbitant amount in excess of the actual consumption which on making complaint to the FESCO was corrected. The same exercise was repeated in the month of August 2011 by respondents for which he has to suffer financially as well as mentally.
2. In response to the notice issued by this court respondents appeared and submitted that due to fault in the computer system the complainant in the month of June was charged excess units but on pointation of consumer the electricity bill was amended. It was further submitted that as the bill was paid belatedly, therefore, record could not be feeded to the computer resultantly disconnection order was issued.
3. I have perused the record and heard counsel for the parties.
4. Copies of electricity bills for the month of June 2011, July 2011 and August 2011 clearly establish that the consumer was charged in excess of the actual consumption and necessary corrections were made on receipts of complainant. Respondents have admitted this fact. Clearly it reveals from the record that bill for the month of July was paid on 28th, a day before the due date but surprisingly in the next month the paid amount was again included in the bill. The deficiency of services on the part of Respondent/FESCO is clearly established. Such kind of tortures act has become the routine for FESCO for which it is only the consumer who has to take several rounds of the offices of the concerned authorities sacrificing the precious time, money and other recourses. In this case complainant should consider himself to be a lucky one that his electricity bills were amended/corrected by the FESCO. The complainant however, before this court has not established specifically the financial loss he has suffered as result of deficiency in services on the part of respondents except mental torture and agony. However, when the defective and faulty service has been proved, the respondents are directed to pay the complainant proximately Rs. 2000/- as legal expenses. Respondents are also held liable to pay fine Rs. 2000/- under section 32 of the Punjab Consumer Protection Act, 2005, which shall be deposited in the state treasury. The compliance of this judgment shall be reported to this court within 30 days. File be consigned to record room after due completion.