Wrong billing: SHC restrains KESC from disconnection

Power utility compels the consumer pay what is not due.

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday restrained Karachi Electricity Supply Company from disconnecting electricity supply to a petitioner subject to the payment of current dues.

A resident of Defence Housing Authority, Nargis Haroon, disputed a bill of Rs72,327 for the month of December showing a current charges at Rs2,543 and arrears of Rs69,782.

The petitioner maintained that she was paying her electricity bills regularly every month and the previous bill showed no arrears and suddenly in the bill for December 2011, KESC showed and demanded huge arrears.

She maintained that when she approached KESC billing department officials, they were adamant and forced her to pay the bill as generated.

It was also stated that on December 28, staff of KESC came to disconnect the supply but after objection and persuasion they went back warning that the bill be paid without delay to avoid disconnection.

The bench, comprising Justice Maqbool Baqer and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, after hearing the counsel for the petitioner ordered issuance of notices to the respondents for January 11, 2012.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.