In an exemplary instance, a consumer of 'Mahavitaran', the state electricity distribution company, has won compensation for disruption of power supply to his locality for seven days without any convincing reason.

The aggrieved consumer, Madhav Damle, had filed a complaint demanding a compensation of Rs 50 per hour for loss of power supply amounting to 171 hours  between June 3 and 10, 2008. His complaint was rejected by the internal consumer grievance cell of the company.

Damle persisted with his complaint and filed an appeal with Consumer Redressal Forum in the city which too rejected his plea upholding the 'Mahavitaran' defence that disruption in electricity supply occurred due to 44mm of rainfall experienced in the area during the period under reference.

Not to be outdone, a tenacious Damle approached the 'Mahavitran' Ombudsman in Mumbai W G Gorde contending that 44 mm rainfall could not be construed as a 'natural calamity' to justify disruption in power supply for seven days, following which  his plea was granted with a compensation of Rs 3850 by the Ombudsman.

Damle who received the cheque on April 21-- after almost a year long battle-- told PTI that he wanted to prove that the 'arbitrary' ways of 'Mahavitaran' can be brought under scrutiny and checked if consumers assert their rights.