KARACHI:
Recently, I took a brief break to visit my temporary residency in Hyderabad. To my dismay, I discovered that I had received a bill from Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) for a staggering amount of 30,000 rupees, even though I had not used any electricity in the last six months as I was away for work.
Upon further investigation, I discovered that the meter was malfunctioning and not recording the electricity usage properly. Despite the meter displaying a blank reading on the LCD, HESCO was still billing me for imaginary meter readings adding to my already high bill. When I contacted HESCO about the issue, I did not receive clear answers to my inquiries. When I requested them to change the meter, I was informed that I would have to visit their office and pay a fee of 5,000 rupees regardless of whether the fault was with their lineman or not. To add insult to injury, HESCO threatened to cut off my electricity connection within 24 hours without any written order and without resolving my complaint. HESCO’s response was completely unacceptable and unethical.
What is particularly frustrating is that no other electricity companies are operating in Hyderabad, like in the rest of the country, leaving us at the mercy of HESCO. In other countries, consumers have the option to choose between different electric companies — something that encourages competition and drives companies to provide better service to their customers. Unfortunately, we do not have this luxury in Pakistan. HESCO must consider my situation and resolve this matter promptly. I hope my story serves as a reminder to all of us that we must demand better service from companies like HESCO. Our basic needs should not be at the mercy of a single company, and the Pakistani government and citizens must hold them accountable.
Suprin Aziz
Tando Mohammad Khan
.Published in The Express Tribune, April 22nd, 2023.
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