Statutory remedies under Regulation 11(7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code must be exhausted prior to seeking judicial intervention.

ORDER

This Writ Petition has been filed seeking to quash the impugned Electricity bill which levied Rs.3,33,868/- for the period from 25.10.2024 to 18.11.2024 in connection with Service No.06155015410, issued by the fourth respondent and consequently, to direct the respondents to refix the Electricity bill for the above said period.

2. Heard both sides.

3. The petitioner submits that he is engaged in the prawn farming business in Adambur Village, Pudukottai District and has been provided with an electricity connection by the fourth respondent under Service No.06155015410. The petitioner has regularly paid electricity charges without any default. However, on 18.11.2024, the petitioner received a message from TANGEDCO stating that an electricity bill of Rs.3,33,868/- had been generated for the period from 25.10.2024 to 18.11.2024. The message also mentioned that the last due date for payment was 14.11.2024, but the petitioner had only received the message after the due date, causing shock and confusion. Upon receiving the message, the petitioner visited the office of the fourth respondent on 19.11.2024 to seek clarification. The petitioner explained that the bill amount appeared to be erroneous, as it was calculated based on an alleged consumption of 38,805 units, which was far higher than his usual electricity consumption since obtaining the connection.

4. The petitioner later came to know through the online portal that his energy meter was defective. If the meter was defective, the respondents could not have accurately calculated his electricity consumption. This raises serious doubts about the arbitrary and unreasonable generation of the bill without proper verification.

5. The petitioner further submits that the respondents failed to notify him about the defective meter in a timely manner and did not take the necessary steps to replace it. Instead, they hastily generated an inflated bill based on erroneous calculations, thereby forcing him to pay an unjustified amount of Rs.3,33,868/-.

6. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner, aggrieved by the impugned demand notice, has a statutory appellate remedy available under Regulation 11(7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code , 2004, which reads as follows:-

''(7) In case the consumer does not agree with the assessment made by the Engineer or the higher level officer, as the case may be, the matter may be referred to the next higher level officer of the licensee. In case the consumer is still not satisfied, the consumer is at liberty to approach the respective Consumer Grievance Redressal Forum of the licensee.''

7. Hence, according to the learned Standing Counsel, the only remedy available to the petitioner is to approach the Assistant Executive Engineer, if aggrieved by the impugned demand notice. According to the learned Standing Counsel, without approaching the said authority, the petitioner has wrongly approached this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.

8. This Court after considering the rival submissions, is of the considered view that the petitioner will have to necessarily preferred an appeal as prescribed under Regulation 11(7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code , 2004, if aggrieved by the impugned demand notice.

9. For the foregoing reasons, the petitioner is directed to prefer an appeal as against the impugned demand notice before the Assistant Executive Engineer as per the Regulation 11(7) of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Supply Code , 2004, within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. On receipt