Rejecting the counter-narrative of the Ministry of Energy on an overbilling report, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has said that its findings are based on data provided by the power distribution companies (DISCOs), which acknowledge that overbilling has been done.
At a public hearing on making amendments to the Consumer Service Manual, different stakeholders rejected the proposed amendments including an urgent fee of Rs15,000 to Rs30,000 for installing a new meter, compound interest of 14% on installments of consumer bills, restrictions and penalties on multiple connections at one premises and higher penalties on detection of a slow or defective meter, power theft, etc. Nepra Chairman Waseem Mukhtar presided over the hearing, which was attended by all members of the authority.
It was proposed that consumers seeking priority connection would have to pay an urgent fee of Rs15,000 for a single-phase meter and Rs30,000 for a three-phase meter. At present, new connections are provided within 30 days for payment of Rs8,500 to Rs11,500 for a single-phase meter and from Rs36,500 to Rs50,000 for a three-phase meter.
An official of the Power Division told the hearing that the new fee for the urgent meter would not be a security deposit or the cost of the meter as it would constitute the income of DISCOs.
When the regulator asked as to “how many days does a new normal electricity connection take”, the Power Division official said that new connections were being provided within 30 days.
However, the regulator countered that if the proposed urgent fee was allowed, then connections for regular consumers would be further delayed.
Nepra Member from Balochistan Mathar Niaz Rana, while commenting on the proposed urgent fee, said DISCOs were losing consumers and most of them were going off-grid. “In the next five years, you will not find an electricity buyer as more consumers will go off-grid,” he added.
Read NEPRA report exposes overbilling scandal
A Nepra official informed the hearing that overall 208,007 domestic, commercial and industrial applications for new connections were pending with DISCOs for over one month to one year. In response, the Power Division official said that the delay in connections was due to the slow procurement of material due to the Letters of Credit crisis.
“If you have problems in getting material for meters of normal connections, how will you ensure the supply of meters to those who are paying the urgent fee,” the regulator asked.
An intervener, on behalf of consumers, said that amendments to the consumer manual were proposed by DISCOs, which wanted to take money from people and put it in the pockets of their employees.
Member Sindh Rafiq Shaikh suggested that meters should be given free of cost like mobile SIMs, which was the only way for enhancing electricity sales.
“If you are willing to impose a penalty on DISCOs for not providing new connections within 30 days, we can consider the proposal of urgent fee,” he remarked.
“CEOs of all DISCOs have admitted to overbilling,” they said, adding “we have staff shortage and no company has challenged the overbilling data.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2023.
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