Electricity tariff hike triggers protests in provincial capital

Citizens decline to pay ‘exorbitant’ taxes included in their bills

LAHORE:

A hike in electricity tariffs has triggered protests in various parts of the provincial metropolis. Electricity consumers have refused to pay heavy taxes imposed on electricity bills and demanded of the government to immediately withdraw them.

Angry power consumers staged protest demonstrations in Baghbanpura, China Scheme, Green Town, Misri Shah, Shadbagh, Shahdara and other lower-income neighbourhoods of the city. They shouted slogans against the government and power utility company and announced not to pay taxes included in their electricity bill.

A resident of Shadbagh, Tahir Hanif, pointed out that over a dozen different types of taxes have been imposed on electricity bills, besides fuel adjustment, TV license fee and other surcharges.

“In the current month’s electricity bills even the amount of taxes is higher than the actual cost of the electricity,” he highlighted and disclosed that the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) has sent him a bill of Rs19,548 for August.

This 388 units bill shows a total electricity cost of Rs9,114.40 and over Rs10,433 taxes and other surcharges.

“I am running an electric store which has no air conditioner or other heavy load equipment.

The power utility company has sent an exorbitantly high bill which is beyond my financial capacity.

I have to visit the power utility company’s office to seek approval to pay this bill in instalments. However, the tension of paying such heavy electricity bills will return when we have to pay two bills,” he lamented.

Another citizen, Abdul Qasim, pointed out that the average cost of electricity units has surpassed Rs42 per unit.

Such a massive increase in electricity bills is beyond the capacity of the common citizens. Current tariffs will only encourage electricity theft.

The government should withdraw all taxes from electricity bills to avoid hampering growth.

Women also participated in protest demonstrations and lamented rulers for their unsympathetic behaviour towards lower income and middle strata of the society.

A housewife, Asma Begum, said: “Instead of controlling inflation the government has increased prices of all utilities. In the current circumstance, either you can pay utility bills, school fees or give food to your children. It has become impossible to make both ends meet.

Prices of all commodities have been multiplied but income is stagnant.

The purchasing power of the most the citizens have been wiped out owing to the uncertain political and economic condition in the country,” she regretted.

On the other hand, a senior official of the power utility company revealed that following the increase in electricity tariffs and taxes number of bill-related complaints have been multiplied.

Every day thousands of consumers are visiting to get their bills corrected because a large number of citizens still do not believe that the government has jacked up electricity tariffs across the country.

He said, “We cannot waive taxes on electricity bills but allow partial payments to consumers to avoid late payment surcharge.

Electricity tariffs have become a headache for even middle-income populations of the country which earn reasonably good.”

Responding to a question, he pointed out that electricity tariffs would remain high owing to fuel price adjustment for the next couple of months after which electricity tariffs may come down if oil prices remain lower in the international markets and the rupee gains against the greenback.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2022.