Electricity Consumers
Electricity Consumers
I am attaching two newspaper reports which have appeared in NBT Faridabad. While these are just two reports pertaining to Faridabad, but I see such news every now and then. While it reflects that the residents of Faridabad are suffering from DHBVN a DISCOM in Souhern part of Haryana with respect to the problems in their bills, it is also expected that similar problems prevailing across the country. Shockingly the newspaper reports also state that while the consumers keep on visiting the offices of DHBVN for correction in their bills, the senior officials are expressing ignorance of such complaints and such excuses are not only in Faridabad but again across the country. In view of the newspaper reports, I advise as below at least to handle complaints of electricity billing:
1. As soon as you receive the bills, please verify the meter readings shown in the bills with the previous bill as well as actual meter reading at the time of receiving the bill. With this you will have an estimate of the meter reading vis-a vis reading shown in the bill and the idea about any problem if any. If you find any major discrepancy, please report immediately to the SDO and Xen of your area at least by email with the photo taken of the meter reading.
2. In case the bill is based on an average basis due to non-taking of the meter reading, the electricity supply companies have been mandated to adjust with actual meter reading in the subsequent bills. Meanwhile again report back to the SDO and XEN of the area by email alongwith a photo taken of actual meter reading on the date of receiving the bills.
3. In case you do not get complaint resolution within 30 days, please make complaint to CGRF of the DISCOM by sending the same to the CGRF by speed post to their office. The contact details of the SDO, XEN and CGRF are supposed to be available on the back side of the bill that you receive every month. CGRF would organise a hearing wherein the SDO would also be called in. You will get due notice from CGRF for the hearing. In case you feel financial loss due to deficiency in electricity billing, you have a right to claim the same from the DISCOM.
4. While the above is the complaint redressal system, it would be appreciable if you can also lodge your complaint at State Consumer Helpline of your State. Most of the State Consumer Helplines are working under the umbrella of State Governments. This would put pressure on the State Governments to consolidate the complaints and take up with the respective DISCOM for corrective action. The senior officials of the electricity companies would not have any excuse of ignorance about the problems in the electricity sectors as being reported in the news reports.
Last but not the least, please stop bribing the officials/clerks of the DISCOMs for getting correction in the meter reading and electricity bills. We together can make a difference in the system and strive for better quality of services. more
I am attaching two newspaper reports which have appeared in NBT Faridabad. While these are just two reports pertaining to Faridabad, but I see such news every now and then. While it reflects that the residents of Faridabad are suffering from DHBVN a DISCOM in Souhern part of Haryana with respect to the problems in their bills, it is also expected that similar problems prevailing across the country. Shockingly the newspaper reports also state that while the consumers keep on visiting the offices of DHBVN for correction in their bills, the senior officials are expressing ignorance of such complaints and such excuses are not only in Faridabad but again across the country. In view of the newspaper reports, I advise as below at least to handle complaints of electricity billing:
1. As soon as you receive the bills, please verify the meter readings shown in the bills with the previous bill as well as actual meter reading at the time of receiving the bill. With this you will have an estimate of the meter reading vis-a vis reading shown in the bill and the idea about any problem if any. If you find any major discrepancy, please report immediately to the SDO and Xen of your area at least by email with the photo taken of the meter reading.
2. In case the bill is based on an average basis due to non-taking of the meter reading, the electricity supply companies have been mandated to adjust with actual meter reading in the subsequent bills. Meanwhile again report back to the SDO and XEN of the area by email alongwith a photo taken of actual meter reading on the date of receiving the bills.
3. In case you do not get complaint resolution within 30 days, please make complaint to CGRF of the DISCOM by sending the same to the CGRF by speed post to their office. The contact details of the SDO, XEN and CGRF are supposed to be available on the back side of the bill that you receive every month. CGRF would organise a hearing wherein the SDO would also be called in. You will get due notice from CGRF for the hearing. In case you feel financial loss due to deficiency in electricity billing, you have a right to claim the same from the DISCOM.
4. While the above is the complaint redressal system, it would be appreciable if you can also lodge your complaint at State Consumer Helpline of your State. Most of the State Consumer Helplines are working under the umbrella of State Governments. This would put pressure on the State Governments to consolidate the complaints and take up with the respective DISCOM for corrective action. The senior officials of the electricity companies would not have any excuse of ignorance about the problems in the electricity sectors as being reported in the news reports.
Last but not the least, please stop bribing the officials/clerks of the DISCOMs for getting correction in the meter reading and electricity bills. We together can make a difference in the system and strive for better quality of services. more
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Over and above the Bills already paid still exist in to OUTSTANDING and the Complaint lodged is NOT EVEN acknowledged. It was stated to go to the Registered Office/ Head Office. Total Lethargy and Carelessness. Over and above the Call Centers frequently calls at odd time without giving the identifications of the caller and response to be given to WHOM. more
Jul 25
we should write to the electric co, CM of that state and to PM on the web - interact with PM. writing in these columns will not give the required results. more
Jul 22
The kind of discrepancies reported in the post are sporadic and mainly happen because of human errors and can't be generalised. Recently, similar incident came to light in our state. The electricity bill of a labourer ran into crores of rupees. It does not mean that he is liable to pay the bill. Once the incident was reported in the media, the people of the electricity supplying company ran after him to rectify the discrepancies. Moreover, area offices of all electricity boards have a separate dedicated counter for spot redressing of grievances, who generally attend the grievances immediately and redress them as quickly as possible and a very few ones are left to refer to the higher authorities. more
Jul 21
i am not sure whether any bribe is asked for by the concerned employees to rectify such errors, as you said but what I see is people simply visit the office of the electricity office, refer the discrepancies to the employee attending the dedicated counter and get their grievances redressed. I am sure there are no instances of any illegal transactions in the process, as I had also a few occasions in the past to get my bills rectified, which was done hassle free. more
Jul 28
If such errors are human errors then there will be a robust system to correct it immediately to avoid any harassment to the consumer. When the staff start charging money for correction or keep on troubling then it cannot be called as human error in fact it become unethical business practices. more
Jul 26
@ Shri N S SRINIVASA MURTHY Ji, Sir, in another report appearing in the newspaper few days back wherein it was reported that the consumers in Faridabad who were protesting against the power failure for two days were locked up in the police station for many many hours, as far as DHBVN is concerned, based on the news paper report, I have requested Govt of Haryana to look into the affairs of DHBVN. Based on my complaint , Govt of Haryana has already taken up the issue with DHBVN and Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission. In this particular case of Faridabad, I have offered my assistance to the consumers of Faridabad who are facing the issue with DHBVN to enable them to take up their complaint appropriately. more
Jul 21
Most of us pass a general comment and feel we have done our duty more
Jul 21
Sir, is another case where the consumers who were protesting against the power failure for two days were locked up in the police station for many many hours, as far as DHBVN is concerned, based on the news paper report, I have requested Govt of Haryana to look into the affairs of DHBVN. Based on my complaint , Govt of Haryana has already taken up with DHBVN and Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission. more
Jul 21
