Discos, KE must ‘ensure billing as per meter reading’

NA panel urges ministry to submit report on how to tackle forced load-shedding

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy (Power Division) on Friday asked the authorities concerned to pass on directions to all the power distribution companies (Discos) and the K-Electric to ensure billing as per meter reading.

The committee met under the chairmanship of MNA Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari.

The committee also urged the ministry to submit a report on how to tackle the issue of forced load-shedding on electricity feeders by the respective Disco, a statement said.

The committee was apprised that the K-Electric was forcibly shutting down various feeders in Karachi on the pretext of non-recovery of electricity bills. The committee member from Karachi contented that the electricity consumers paying their bills regularly should not suffer on the behest of the kunda mafia and habitual defiant consumers. The committee agreed with the member, opining that the issue was pervasive besides being grave and the ministry should look into this and bring a comprehensive report in that regard in the next meeting of the committee.

The Power Division secretary apprised the committee that it was really a serious issue but the Discos had restored to this due to continuous losses, theft and accumulation of huge arrears.

He agreed that the law-abiding citizens were facing the brunt in that regard. He informed that various options were taken into consideration but dropped due to huge financial cost.

He assured the committee for bringing his ministry's recommendations in next meeting.

The committee pended discussion on the PSDP proposals of the ministry with directions for preparations of a presentation with complete details of the demands.

The committee also directed all Discos to ensure completion of projects under SDGs achievement programme without further delay for which funds had already been released.