Setting aside the “unreasonable” bills issued by the Punjab power utility, Mohali’s Permanent lok Adalat (Public Utility Services) has imposed Rs 50,000 damages besides Rs 5,000 against the Punjab State Power Corporation limited (PSPCl) for “causing mental, physical and financial harassment” to a consumer. 

The lok Adalat, headed by Jagroop Singh Mahal, has directed the respondent to pay the same amount within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order “failing which it will be liable to pay interest 12 per cent per annum thereon”. 

Quashing the electricity bill amount of whooping Rs 1,00,003, the lok Adalat has left it on the PSPCl authorities to recover the amount of costs and damages from its officials who did not comply with the regulations. The decision came on the application of Jasbir Singh alleging that bills of huge amounts were issued to him after installation of meters. Finding fault with the PSPCl’s functioning, the lok Adalat also directed the authorities to “reissue” the bill keeping in view that some of the amount has already been deposited. 

Going into background of the matter, the electricity consumption at Jasbir’s house used to be between Rs 300 to Rs 500 for two months but when a new meter was installed, the applicant was issued the bill of Rs 32,520. 

Irked, Jasbir Singh challenged the correctness of the meter, but the same could not be tested. Meanwhile, his meter became dead. Subsequently, the PSPCl issued bills at an exorbitant rate of Rs 53,232, Rs 69,056, and Rs 1,00,003 to Jasbir, to which he requested the authorities to charge reasonable amount. As the PSPCl officials did not accept Jasbir’s request, the electricity supply to his house was disconnected in December 2012. 

Following, the applicant then challenged PSPCl’s action by moving the lok Adalat, and notice was issued to the respondent. In its reply, the PSPCl did not deny that the applicant’s electricity bill used to be between Rs 300 to Rs 500, and admitted that the bill issued after meter installation was incorrect in view of power load of 0.500 kilo watt. 

They claim to have overhauled the account and found that as against Rs 1,26,974, only Rs 4,577 was due from him. Jasbir deposited the said amount. But, his woes did nit end there. Even after that, the next bill on March 16, arrears of Rs 10,551 were shown. 

“Repeated notices were thereafter issued to the SDO, XEN and SC Electricity but they did not appear to oppose the application of the applicant and did not file any documents, affidavits of other evidence.... Permanent lok Adalat (PUS) while deciding the application quash the bill of Rs 1,00,003 and also the subsequent bill date March 16, 2014, showing the arrears of Rs 10,551,” read the orders. 

Holding that the PSPCl “did not act reasonably towards the consumer”, the lok Adalat observed that as per PSPCl regulations, a new meter was to be installed within five days failing which the electricity supply should be restored directly from the lines but the respondent did not do that. 

The electric supply was restored in June 2013, and during this period, the applicant remained without electricity thereby causing mental, physical and financial harassment to him, read the order. 

Permanent lok Adalat (PUS) observed, “In such cases, the calculation formula if any adopted by the respondent to issue the tentative bill is faulty and requires revision. It is a glaring example where the actual dues were only Rs 4,577, the respondent issue a bill of Rs 1,00,003 which may be difficult and sometimes impossible for a consumer to collect such a huge amount to save his connection.”