Date:22/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/22/stories/2008112254350400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Woman waits for 1,813 days to get power connection

B.S. Satish Kumar

Ombudsman slaps penalty on MESCOM for the delay

Deadline to provide new connections is as per norms is 30 days
Penalty amount to be adjusted against the woman’s monthly power bills

BANGALORE: A poor and illiterate widow from a village in Kundapur taluk had an agonising 1,813 day wait to obtain a domestic power connection after applying to the local electricity supply company.

Lachchi Poojarthi of Ballur village requested the local office of the Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM) to provide a connection to her house on February 5, 2002. She only got the connection on January 1, 2007 and on Thursday S.D. Ukkali, State Electricity Ombudsman in his very first order penalised MESCOM for the delay. The Karnataka Electricity Reforms Commission (Licensees’ Standards of Performance) Regulations set a maximum deadline of 30 days to provide new connections from the date of receipt of an application.

In Ms Poojarthi’s case, the delay in getting the connection was due to various factors, including the lethargic attitude of power supply officials, legal wrangles and inordinate delays by the Deputy Commissioner’s office to dispose of the her petition. But none of these could deter this gutsy marginal farmer.

In his judgment, which was issued on Thursday, Mr. Ukkali directed the MESCOM to adjust the penalty amount against the payment of monthly power bills by Ms. Poojarthy and also pay interest till the entire amount is adjusted against bills.

Ms. Poojarthy approached the MESCOM Consumer Grievances’ Redressal Forum seeking a compensation of Rs 3.86 lakh (at a rate of Rs. 200 for the delay of every single day for 1,813 days). When the Forum did not rule in her favour, she challenged this before the State Electricity Ombudsman in June 2008.

The ombudsman appreciated the efforts by this illiterate woman and accepted the petition though it was filed 353 days after the Forum gave its ruling.

As a special case he took up her petition. He has slapped a penalty of Rs. 2,600 on MESCOM. It may be a far cry from the Rs. 3.86 lakhs she claimed, but the moral victory is hers. It has also sent a strong signal to the ESCOMS to enforce strict standards of practice.