CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL Vs. AHMEDABAD ELECTRICITY CO.LTD.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this petition filed by the Consumer Protection Council, Ahmedabad with the Ahmedabad Electricity Co. Ltd. and the Coal India Ltd. as Respondents, the main grievances voiced by the registered consumer association concern the method of fixation of the charges for electricity supplied by the First Respondent Company, the inadequacy of the rate of interest allowed by the company on security deposits, the alleged illegality involved in the levy of fixed charge and energy charge separately from the consumers, the -alleged defective condition of the meters that are affixed at the premises of the various consumers by the Respondent Company and the alleged uneconomic and inefficient manner in which the First Respondent company is conducting its affairs in the matter of generation, supply and distribution of electricity, more particularly with reference to the losses in transmission and distribution and generally with reference to the cost incurred by them in the generation of electrical energy.

(2.) TWO of the aforementioned points are fully covered by us in the order passed by us in a similar petition filed by another consumer association, Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, as against the First Respondent"Original Petition No. 14 of 1989"In that order, we have recorded our conclusion that the challenge raised against the levy of fixed charge and fuel adjustment charge are devoid of merits.

(3.) COMING now to the complaint regarding the defective nature of the meters affixed to the premises of the consumers by the First Respondent company, we are assured by Shri Thakore, the learned Advocate General for Gujarat, who appeared on behalf of the company that any consumer having a complaint about the incorrect functioning of the meter may send a written complaint to the Zonal Officer of the company in the concerned zone and within a period not exceeding one month from the date of receipt of such complaint, steps will be taken to have the meter properly tested and to rectify or replace the meter in case it is found to be defective in any respect. We consider that this assurance given by the learned Advocate General of Gujarat is sufficient to set right whatever grievances the consumers may have on this account