LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Confusion reigned in the affairs of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) as an announcement on Thursday by the company’s director general that electricity tariffs have been split into two daily categories – peak and off-peak-hours rates – was later taken back by the managing director.
According to an announcement on Thursday by Pepco director general, the peak-hours rate – from 6 pm to 11 pm – will be Rs11.77 per unit, while the off-peak-hours rate – from 11pm to 6 pm – will be Rs 7.18 per unit.
Some reports suggested that there will be special time-sensitive meters installed to implement this new tariff system, which the director general said was aimed at discouraging the use of electricity during the peak hours, when the shortage of electricity is at its greatest. The move was to come once the new meters were installed.
However, later in the day Managing Director Pepco, Tahir Basharat Cheema rushed to straighten things out, saying that there was no such move on the cards.
It is unclear what prompted the director general to make such a major announcement, only for it to be retracted by the managing director.
The move had come in for immediate condemnation. Former MD Pepco Munawar Baseer said that Pepco could not take a unilateral decision in this regard. The trader community had also immediately rejected the scheme, terming it “callous”.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2010.
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