Kerala consumer commission fined KSEB Rs 10,000 and cancelled a disputed electricity bill after a farmer won a case against the power board over an alleged incorrect bill.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has been fined Rs 10,000 by the Thiruvananthapuram District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for issuing an electricity bill for power that was allegedly not consumed by a customer.
The consumer commission also directed KSEB to pay an additional Rs 3,000 as litigation expenses to the complainant and cancelled the disputed electricity bill issued to farmer S. Raveendran Pillai of Elamba, Thiruvananthapuram.
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Dispute over Rs 25,059 electricity bill
The case began after Raveendran Pillai purchased a house in 2013. The first electricity bill he received after buying the property was for Rs 123, with a remark stating "door closed".
Two months later, after a meter reading was conducted, KSEB claimed that around 3,000 units of electricity had been consumed and issued a bill of Rs 25,059.
Pillai objected to the bill, stating that the electricity consumption shown was impossible and that he had not used such a large amount of power.
KSEB disconnected connection over unpaid bill
According to the complaint, KSEB officials suggested that the unusually high reading could have been caused by factors such as lightning, but still instructed him to clear the payment.
Unable to pay the disputed amount, Pillai's electricity connection was disconnected. He later approached the KSEB Attingal office, where an Assistant Engineer conducted an inspection.
Following the inspection, officials directed him to pay Rs 4,000 immediately, after which the electricity connection was restored the next day. Authorities informed him that the remaining disputed amount of Rs 21,059 would be examined later.
However, KSEB subsequently issued another notice demanding Rs 35,308, including interest, and asked him to clear the amount within 15 days.
Farmer represented himself in consumer court
Following the notice, Raveendran Pillai approached the Thiruvananthapuram District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on December 28, 2017.
Pillai, a 72-year-old farmer who had studied only up to Class 10, argued his case himself before the commission, while KSEB was represented by a lawyer.
The case was heard by the commission headed by President P.V. Jayarajan, along with members Preetha G. Nair and V.R. Viju. The verdict was delivered on June 22.
Commission cancels bill, orders compensation
The consumer commission ruled in favour of Raveendran Pillai, cancelling the disputed electricity bill and directing KSEB to pay compensation for the inconvenience caused.
The verdict highlights the role of consumer forums in resolving disputes between individuals and public service providers, allowing consumers to challenge incorrect billing and demand accountability.
Published: 18 Jul 2026, 10:17 am IST
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