Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Y. G. Muralidharan
Consumer Advocate
Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission
6th and 7th Floor, Mahalaxmi Chambers
No. 9/2 M.G. Road, Bangalore - 560001

Dear Mr. Muralidharan,

We are writing to you to lodge a complaint regarding an electrical voltage spike that we experienced last week and request for compensation. In an article in the Sunday Times of India, 8/6/2003, it is suggested that we can receive compensation for damages resulting from high-voltage spikes from BESCOM.

On Monday June 2nd, a voltage spike hit our building sometime between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. We noticed the spike when our UPS, which is connected to about 5 computers in our office, broke down with electrical sparks and a loud sound. At the same time, an extension-cum-surge protector connected to the UPS also sparked and destroyed one of the computers. The surge-protector and the computer were burned and the office was full of smoke. The motherboard in the computer was completely damaged and the computer had to be replaced. The UPS was also badly damaged, although we tried to get it repaired, it is still not working properly.

BESCOM was called to fix the problem immediately after the problem occurred. They apparently fixed the problem 3 hours later. According our building watchman, two of the three phases going to a transformer in front of our building was destroyed due to the voltage spike. In fact, he told us that two of the wires in the transformer were fused!

The current monetary costs for fixing the damage from this voltage spike are as follows:
Rs. 6000 - Repair of the UPS (still not fully fixed)
Rs. 1500 - Labor and Parts for the electricians
Rs. 15,000 - Replacement of the computer

Thus, the total cost is around Rs. 22,500. As an NGO that barely has enough money to sustain ourselves, an added cost on this order is very difficult for us to bear. Since this additional cost has resulted entirely from an electrical supply problem from BESCOM, we expect to be fully compensated.

As per our phone conversation yesterday, we have also mailed a copy of this letter to BESCOM.

We hope to hear from you as soon as possible and hope that our request will be granted.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ananth Chikkatur and Leo Saldanha
Environment Support Group

Cc: Asst. Executive Engineer
BESCOM, S1 sub-division
Jayanagar 3rd Block, Bangalore-560011