Case Triggered by 8-Year Delay in Meter Replacement
The case revolves around Suman Dubey, whose electricity meter was damaged due to high voltage in 2014. Although she applied for a replacement on September 15, 2014, the electricity company replaced the meter only on December 6, 2019—a delay of nearly five years.
Even after installation of the new meter, Dubey continued to receive incorrect and estimated electricity bills, causing financial and mental distress for several years.
Hefty Wrong Bill Issued in 2022
In 2022, the power company issued an inflated bill of ₹3,01,139, showing extraordinarily high consumption of 30,067 to 32,072 units. Despite repeated complaints, the company did not correct the error, forcing the consumer to approach the Gwalior Consumer Forum.
Forum Rejects Power Company’s Claims
The forum dismissed the company’s arguments, noting that it failed to provide:
Evidence of when the meter malfunctioned,
Details on how long it remained faulty,
The basis for estimating bills for nearly two years.
The commission observed that the company lacked transparency in both the meter replacement process and the billing methodology.
All Estimated Bills Cancelled; Revised Bill Ordered
According to the order:
All estimated bills from November 22, 2020, to September 2022 stand cancelled.
The company must issue a revised bill based on the actual meter reading of 32,072 units recorded in September 2022.
All previous payments made by the consumer must be adjusted in the new bill.
The power company must pay ₹1,500 for mental distress and ₹1,000 as legal costs.
Significance of the Ruling
This order reinforces consumer rights in cases of faulty meters and billing errors. It also highlights prolonged negligence by utility providers and the importance of timely grievance redressal.
