Dear Sir/s,
I was allotted a ground floor flat no. 52/334 by Gujarat Housing board, Baroda in the year 1979 and I am staying in this flat since then. For measuring electricity consumption, an energy meter was installed, which was a property of the BMC then, GEB thereafter and now of MGVCL, Gotri, Baroda. The meter was sealed but kept in open near staircase which is not within visible range of our flat, but accessible by any one easily, if desired.
I had approached MGVCL, Gotri on 03.08.2006 and had paid an amount of Rs. 2630/- towards deposit for connected load of my flat, as advised by MGVCL, Gotri.
MGVCL had given contract for providing meter boxes and their contractor had taken out meter and was replaced without any intimation to us on 07.05.2010.
MGVCL had sent us a notice on 10.05.2010 to remain present at their meter laboratory for meter checking, which they had checked on 07.05.2010.
During our visit on 12.05. they opened the meter in our presence and showed us a pin hole at the bottom of the cover and very faint line marking on the disc.
They informed us to visit their Gotri office in the evening, then again on 13.05.2010 in morning and again in the evening of 13.05.2010. Before we visited their office in the evening on 13.05. the team of MGVCL staff came with a notice and cut-off the electricity supply of our flat and informed us to visit their office after half an hour. After taking my daughter home from C.A. final exam center, we had visited MGVCL, Gotri office at @ 5.30 PM. The officer concerned came then after and informed us to immediately deposit an amount of Rs. 1, 55, 966=64 Ps. and that the supply shall not be restored otherwise.
Since the exam of my daughter was going on, we agreed to deposit a cheque for the said amount to which it was informed that payment in cash or by DD shall only be accepted. At 6.00 PM in the evening, it was not possible to arrange for DD as all banks were closed by this time for public dealing and it is not possible to have cash of such high amount. After lot of requests it was agreed and accordingly an amt. of Rs. 50000/- in cash was arranged and deposited and two cheques for remaining amount were deposited. The power supply was restored at 8.00 PM on 13.05.2010.
On 14.05.2010 we deposited, in cash, Rs. 1, 05, 000/- and received calculation sheet for arriving at an amount of Rs. 1, 54, 966=64 Ps.
My complaints / grievances are as follows.
1. BMC/GEB/MGVCL has taken no care of their meter for last 31 years and it was installed in open in stair case area which is not within our visible range being occupant of ground floor.
MGVCL staff regularly takes meter readings, why any such tampering in their meter was not reported by them?
Why BMC/GEB/MGVCL did not take any step, for 31 years, to install the meter in safe manner which they have done on 07.05.2010?
2. Their contractor had removed and replaced the meter without any intimation to us. How can we believe that it was not done by them when the meter had stayed in their custody without any intimation to us at all?
3. I have procured 2 nos. old 1.5 T AC units, and was commissioned on 29.03.2010 just before 40 days.
4. MGVCL have given tremendous mental torture to our family by disconnection of power at 4.30 PM and insisting on cash payment of Rs. 1, 55, 966=64Ps., after closure of banks, immediately without which electric power will not be resumed when final C.A. exams of my daughter were in progress.
5. Connected load indicated is 0.1 KW, though I have already deposited for additional load as advised by MGVCL on 03.08.2006 as detailed above.
I request your offices to take up the matter appropriately with MGVCL to reconsider the penalty charged in view of the fact that
(1) the meters are their property and they should periodically keep watch for such tampering by (a) their meter readers or any other way or else (b) should be installed at consumer’s premises or (c) provision for locking them by consumer should be provided.
(2) 2 nos. AC units were commissioned some 40 days before only.
(3) Connected load indicated as 0.1 KW in calculation sheet is wrongly indicated. It should be 3.0KW.
Also GERC should provide for hearing customers also and customers should not be penalized for tampering observed in the property of utility company when it is installed beyond the visible range of customer and in open.
Even the new installation is beyond the visible range, though the meter is installed in a sealed box. We have also requested MGVCL to provide additional locking arrangement for the box provided by MGVCL so that no body, even MGVCL staff or contractor can access meter without the knowledge of their customer.
Note: Please inform me for the documents, if any, required. I shall be able to submit the copy of all the documents referred in above letter.
Regards,
Dilip V. Vasa
0 comments