Residents protest against overbilling by MEPCO

Electricity meters of several houses removed over nonpayment of bills

DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) has started overbilling consumers and removed several meters due to the annual June closing, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The move by the power utility has enraged residents of Model Town and Bhatta Colony protested against the action.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, affected consumers said that in order to show less line losses, MEPCO officials allegedly recorded the reading of units on Jun 19 instead of June 9, at least 10 days earlier than the actual date due to the annual closing.

They accused the meter readers of adding additional units in the bill.  Similarly, they complained the bills were issued with a due date of June 27 which is an added burden on people who get salaries and pensions after the first of each month.

The protesters added that MEPCO workers removed meters from several houses in Model Town and Bhatta Colony and disconnected the electricity supply before the due date.



When contacted, MEPCO Executive Engineer Azizur Rehman said that due to the June closing, customers had been told to make the payments before the due date. “Defaulter’s meters have been taken down while the ones removed mistakenly will be put up again,” he said.

He pointed out that like the other utilities, the customers should keep an amount separately for the payment of bills in order to avoid difficulties.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2018.