3-year jail for wrong consumer bills proposed

Amendments to law will strengthen NEPRA, promote energy trade market


Our Correspondent November 21, 2017
PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has announced that the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill 2017 will further strengthen the power sector regulator and promote an open market competitive regime for energy exchange.

“The bill seeks greater role for Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) in terms of action against overbilling, excessive billing and wrong billing and its offices will be established in all districts to address public grievances,” said the Power Division in a statement issued on Monday.

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The bill suggests imprisonment of up to three years for the company employees found involved in wrong billing.

The federal government has introduced the amendment bill in line with a decision of the Council of Common Interests taken in 2013.

In that year, the CCI approved the National Power Policy, laying down key components of a development strategy to achieve an efficient, competitive and sustainable power sector.

The policy affirms the resolve of the federal government to “limit its role to policymaking” and ensure that “unless necessary, service delivery is promoted through a fiercely competitive and transparent private sector”.

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The policy also approves the strengthening of Nepra as a world-class regulatory authority with sophisticated and efficient capacity to determine tariffs and lay the foundation of a competitive bidding process.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2017.

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