Newsletter dated 25th November 2005: for distributions to all Delhi RWA Chiefs

URJA Convention: actions and resolutions: The URJA Convention held on 5th November at Lodhi Road passed a number of resolutions after discussions between members. The resultant decisions were as follows:

• Members decided unanimously that the power situation had not improved at all;
• That power bills were still reflecting abnormal increases;
• That electronic meters were suspect in the eyes of all consumers;
• That the testing drive by the Government was a cover-up and the credibility of the testing procedures were not acceptable to RWAs in general.
• In addition, Members defied any plans to re-start meter replacement and collectively refused to allow any replacement of meters by EMs until the issue was sorted out.

Decision on a committee to oversee an enquiry into the DVB privatisation: Members voted overwhelmingly to create a committee that would put pressure on the government to institute an enquiry into the DVB privatisation deal with a view to uncover serious lapses in the formulation of the agreement and investigate into the roles of persons who have tailored this deal to suit private parties at the cost of honest consumers.

Revelations of Transco Expert on Electronic Meters: URJA in association with People’s Action released critical information collected from Mr. M.K. Choudhry, Ex-General Manager of Transco about the way in which EMs were designed to register readings based on energy consumption in the neutral. This information that was released through the media was picked up admirable by the Times of India and has given our campaign a new focus. Consequently, it has been proved that what a number of residents have been saying about abnormally high bills has turned out true. M.K. Choudhry has prepared a note for URJA members which we have put in a question-answer pattern for easy understanding and which is enclosed. Kindly photocopy this Q&A and share with all your residents in your locality so that they may be well informed about the subject.

Invitation by Standing Committee of Parliament on Energy: The parliamentary standing committee has invited People’s Action members to place their views before the committee before the final report is delivered. Members led by President People’s Action Mr. Sanjay Kaul attended the sitting on 25th November at the Parliament Annexe. URJA Convenor Promod Chawla and Anant Trivedi also accompanied the group. A note detailing the collective views of all RWAs has been prepared by Anant Trivedi, President of Ishwar Nagar RWA for submission. Col. [Retd.] D.K. Shandilya, Gen. Secretary, People’s Action and M.K. Choudhry were also present at the deposition. The discussions cannot be shared as they are are classifed under directions form The Committee until the Committee’s report is published.

Campaign against DVB privatisation: In keeping with the resolutions of the July 14th Conventions, the third point mandated to us for seeking a review of the DVB privatisation is due to start. Experts have agreed that the real reason for the high power bills is the undue increase in tariff ordered by the DERC on the basis of submissions made by DISCOMS. As we now know, these increases were made to subsidise losses on account of power theft. We have argued that DISCOMS canot make honest consumers pay for the dishonesty of others by raising tariffs. This would amount to punishing an innocent man for the crime of another. Under this programme, you will be visited by a Volunteer from People’s Action or URJA with printed material for distribution in your respective localities. Kindly follow up faithfully on the programme to create enough impact on the administration and seek a withdrawal of this unjust increase in tariff over the last three years.

URJA Registration and Membership terms: Convenor of URJA Promod Chawla has been entrusted with the work of developing registration documents for URJA as a registered body. It has been decided after much deliberations to keep the membership fee at a one time payment of Rs. 100 payable after the body is registered and all other monies collected as donation for support to activities. Registration Form is also provided in case you have not yet received yours. Kindly fill it in and hand it over to the Volunteer. Payment does not have to be made now.

Acknowledge Receipt of Campaign materials and Subsidise costs: Please acknowledge receipt of the material sent to you as part of the campaign on your RWA letterhead and if inclined, please subsidise the costs by paying the minimal costs of each item @ Rs 1 for the Poster and 0.50 Paise for the Leaflet in quantities you need.

Association for residents whose meters have been changed: URJA has created an association called PROBE [ Protesting Residents Over Billing by Electronic meters ] to protect the interests of such residents whose meters were changed by default, by mistake or by force by DISCOMS in view of the Government’s refusal to support victims of over billing. You are requested to advise all Residents who have had electronic meters installed to become members of this association. On the basis of this we will:

• Initiate a signature campaign to support our plea for fair treatment of consumers with EMs
• Use the data to support an existing case in the High Court against such faulty meters
• File collective consumer cases to protect such residents and claim refunds and compensation of the over billed amounts of the last few years.
• Use the data base to demand an immediate recall and replacement of such meters from the DERC
• Seek a stricture against DISCOMS attempting to replace meters until the issue is resolved.

A format for membership to this body has been enclosed which may be filled by all Residents, including yourselves, if your meter has been replaced. URJA will follow up on all cases where membership has been received offering legal and other support. Please ensure that a token charge of Rs. 5 is collected for this exercise by your RWA  which will go towards stationery, secretarial and legal costs to some extent. We are being assisted in this work by Advocates apart from consumer activists and other legal advisors.

Pl. forward all PROBE membership formats to URJA Secretariat immediately through Volunteers who are visiting you or by contacting the Secretariat after you have collected all such forms from your residents.

[ Photocopy the portion below and distribute to residents with Electronic Meters ] 

PROBE
Protesting Residents Over Billing by Electronic meters
Association Managed by URJA

Membership Form

This is to certify that I am suffering due to the high energy bills I have been receiving since the new electronic meters were installed in my premises.

• I have already been paying highly inflated sums to the private power companies and I have no recourse to any redressal except this representation.
• I am seeking membership of the association of PROBE and authorise URJA to take any actions to defend me and represent me in any legal matter to acquire for me a fair treatment and compensation for the amounts that I have paid in excess of a correct estimation of my power consumption from the power utility serving my area.
• I am enclosing Rs. 5 towards subsidising the costs of such and any actions my local RWA might take to support, protect or defend me through URJA and PROBE.

Name:………………………………………………………………………………………

Full postal Address:…………………………………………………………………………….………………………………...

…………………………………………………………………………………………………Pin:……….………………………

Telephone contacts: Landline:……………………………………………………………..Mobile:……………….…………..

Email:………………………………………………………………………….……………...Date:……………………………...

[Please enclose Rs 5 as facilitation support for your RWA]

 
Signature