Recently I had to undergo the agony of dealing with DHBVN staff in Faridabad. Electricity meter of AVON make in my house stopped displaying units in April-11. The DHBVN meter reader noted this, and I started getting "N" code bills. These were in general 200 units more than my regular consumption. When I went to the DHBVN office, no one seemed to know about my account. After two days, trying to identify the clerk who oversaw my account, he told that I would have to purchase a new meter, and get it installed from the lineman. He also gave me phone number of the lineman.
when I contacted the lineman, he told me that it would cost around 5, 000Rs! and since I was an old man, he would do all the work himself, and I would be spared of taking rounds of the DHBVN office.
Next day, I went to JE's office and told him that lineman was asking for Rs5, 000 for installing a single phase meter at my home, and that installing a meter was in DHBVN's interest, and that it was completely their job, and consumer could not be held responsible for getting faulty meter changed in his premises, the JE told me that I was living under a rock, and that I was talking nonsense, and that even the Prime Minister could not help me, and I would have to buy my own meter, and pay bribe to them for installing it, and that otherwise, I'd keep on getting inflated bills for that.
Taken aback, I went to a nearby electricity shop, and the shopowner had this to say :
DHBVN doesn't have anything in stock with them. Consumers have to supply meter, wire, box, screws etc, even a ladder to join wires on pole was to be supplied by us. Further, the cost of meter would be Rs1, 800/= but the bill he would give me would be for Rs1, 100/= or so. So, it is DHBVN that is actively causing half of black money generation in Haryana!!!
Just to see what happens, I went to the SDO and told him everything. He promised that if I bought the meter, he would get it fixed. But this was the biggest mistake, as everything the JE had threatened me was going to be true...
Firstly I was supposed to get MCO (meter change order) made from the account clerk. Of course he took 3 visits and Rs100 to give me the same (SDO takes Rs50 he said)
Next I was supposed to purchase the meter, wire, etc and get it deposited in lab. Now DHBVN lab is not a lab in sense you and I understand, however, after 2 visits the meter was taken by them, and cash receipt of checking fee was taken. I was told that meter would be automatically installed in my home.
I waited for 10 days, before going to the lab, who told that they had already given the meter to JE for installation. Trying to get in touh with JE proved to be very difficult, as he would not answer my calls, and was never at his office.
Finally, after 5 days of relentless pursuit, JE told that my meter would be installed in 2 days, and that I should arrange for ladder, and contact the lineman. The lineman asked for prepayment of bribe of Rs500, which I gave.
Three days later the lineman came and installed a meter and got signed the MSR (meter seal record) book from me.
My son, who works in the US was also home on holidays, and he noted that the meter installed at our premise was different than meter we had purchased. I was horrified that if tomorrow the DHBVN staff check this, and claim that we had changed the meter ourselves and penalise us for that?
So, through my experience, I want to tell the public & powers that to ask the public to run and get their own meters installed at their houses is exposing them to these bribe seeking sharks, who have no regard for age of the consumer. This practise only encourages more corruption by the field officers, who are all hand in gloves from SDO to lineman. DHBVN should be privatised immediately, as they are the most corrupt people!
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