Complaints galore at KERC meet

Complaints galore at KERC meet
Business Standard


Dharwad September 02, 2005:The functioning of Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) came in for criticism at a meeting of power consumers convened by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission held in Dharwad.

Organisations representing the electricity consumers in Dharwad, Bagalkot, Gadag, Haveri, Belgaum, Uttara Kannada and Bijapur districts expressed displeasure at the arbitrary way of Hescom's functioning. KERC chairman K P Pande and members S D Ukkali and Subrahmanya heard the grievances.

The complaints revolved around faulty billing system, ineffective vigilance, inadequate, supply of quality power and discourteous behaviour of the staff. The petitioners urged the KERC to keep in mind the consumers' interest while revising the power tariff instead of being carried away by the statistics reeled out by Hescom.

The consumers alleged that the computerised billing system was faulty.

They pointed out that the Hescom should charge minimum fees when power is not consumed and should charge on the basis of the units of power consumed when power is used. They alleged that after calculating the charges on the basis of the units consumed the Hescom was collecting the minimum charge additionally. There were complaints that the KPTC vigilance squad was doing nothing and it had become a white elephant.

Consumers from Uttara Kannada district alleged that the Hescom used substandard transformers and was attending to the complaints lodged by the consumers.

The Hescom officials tried to pacify the consumers by offering explanation but there were no takers. K P Pande said that the KERC will submit its recommendations after analysing all the aspects.