Sindh's unpaid power bills worth Rs724m flagged

NA forms subcommittee to resolve billing, disconnection disputes

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy (Power Division) has expressed concern over non-payment of electricity bills by the irrigation and power departments of the Sindh government, causing financial losses to power distribution companies operating in the province. According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the committee directed the chief executive officers of Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO) and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), along with the secretaries of finance, irrigation and power departments of the Sindh government, to jointly reconcile outstanding figures and arrange payments to prevent recurring losses.

The committee met in Parliament House, Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Muhammad Idrees, MNA. Members were informed that the irrigation department alone owed Rs617 million to SEPCO and Rs125 million to HESCO for electricity supplied to SCARP (Salinity Control and Reclamation Project) tube wells, offices and irrigation colonies. The secretaries of the irrigation and power departments argued that the Sindh government did not owe bills related to irrigation colonies. They stated that both power companies had repeatedly been asked to bring residents of irrigation colonies into the metering network, but action from the companies was still awaited.

They further informed the committee that individual meters had been installed in only two irrigation colonies falling under the HESCO region. The committee was told that the Sindh government was ready to reconcile the figures and pay billed amounts.

Taking note of the seriousness of the issue, the committee decided to constitute a subcommittee under the convenership of Syed Wasim Hussain, MNA.