IESCO to crack down on power pilferers
Nepra agreed on a more accelerated reduction in Iesco’s T&D losses from 9.44% in 2014-15 to 7.8% in 2019-20, a decrease of 1.64 percentage points. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) and the Rawalpindi district administration have decided to crack down against illegal power consumption for commercial purposes on domestic tariff metres in the twin cities, The Express Tribune learnt on Sunday.
The illegal practice is prevailing in several localities of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi where small-scale factories have been established in residential areas and are causing a loss to the utility worth millions.
Sources said that business owners when taking up space in residential sectors, do not get their domestic power metres converted into commercial ones. As a result, they pay the far cheaper domestic rate even if their consumption is above average.
Meanwhile, the IESCO and district administration have identified dozens of factories and businesses who have been involved in the illicit practice.
The company will investigate the owners and tenants of such establishments and then take appropriate action, including registration of cases and possibly arrest - especially for those involved in the practice for over two years. IESCO Chief Shahid Iqbal Chaudhry has ordered to disconnect all such connections as the first step. Following this, the IESCO teams would calculate the duration for which the power was being consumed for commercial purposes on domestic tariffs.
Heavy penalties will be imposed on those who are involved in power theft for over six months while their power supply will remain suspended until the installation of commercial metres, sources added.
Moreover, if any connivance with IESCO staff is discovered, action will also be taken against those officials, sources added.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2020.