Bills: DERC order sparks confusion
Richi Verma, TNN 3 November 2009

NEW DELHI: Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's (DERC) order over inflated bills may have come as a relief to many Delhiites, but it has also
left several consumers confused. While the order states that complainants will just have to pay 30% more than what they had paid last year in the same months (June to August), it remains silent on the issue on how those inflated bills will be dealt with where complaints have not been lodged.

A large number of consumers who received abnormally high bills from June to August but paid them fearing disconnection said they also wanted relief and the `extra' amount hey paid should be refunded. "I got a bill of Rs 12,000 in July whereas last year my bill was only Rs 5,400 for the same period. I was unable to lodge a complaint due to various reasons and now I am wondering how my bill will be dealt with,'' said Karan Aggarwal, a resident of Kalkaji.

Power consumers who received high bills are now crowding BSES offices to complain. "I went to the business manager's office with a copy of my June bill this year and last year and a written complaint over the huge difference. But I was told to approach DERC,'' said Col (retd) M K Khanna of Green Park.

While the DERC order has led to spurt in action among consumers who did not lodge complaints earlier, it has also left BSES worried on how each case would be handled. As per DERC's order, only 1623 people registered their grievances with the special cell but now the discom expressed worry that the number could multiply fast.

A BSES spokesperson said the power distribution utility would examine each complaint received. "There are nine forums to lodge bill-related complaints from the CM office, public grievance cell, consumer grievance redressal forum, DERC, etc. If a consumer received a bill which is 50% more than what they paid in the corresponding period last year then we will receive their complaint and install a check meter in their premises. If the readings vary after a few months, then their bill will be accordingly settled,'' said the official. But where settlement was concerned and whether such consumers would be eligible for the 30% scheme, officials said that a clarification would have to be sought from the commission. "The order specially states that immediate relief be given to complainants only,'' said an official.

The fact that those who did not lodge complaint could miss out on immediate relief has angered many. Pankaj Aggarwal of the Joint Front RWAs said: "Why is there a need for complaints for DERC to take action? Why can't they take suo motu action on the basis of data available with discoms which will clearly show how many consumers received abnormally high bills. It is ridiculous to expect 10 lakh consumers to register their grievances.''