ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) of Pakistan has confirmed overbilling by all power distributing companies (DISCOs), in April and June and sought an explanation from them on the issue, local media reported on Wednesday.
According to an official notification, NEPRA has directed all distribution companies, to adjust the bills of consumers according to the actual consumed units.
The notification said that the companies had charged consumers more than the actual units consumed in the months of April and June, which is a violation of NEPRA’s rules. The companies will have to adjust the bills of customers according to the actual units consumed.
NEPRA has also ordered the companies not to charge late payment surcharges from customers who could not pay their bills on time.
The notification further said that the companies would have to replace all faulty meters immediately to avoid overbilling. The companies will have to submit a compliance report to NEPRA within 30 days.
Due to the overbilling more than 0.3 million power consumers moved out of the protected category and had to pay inflated electricity bills in the month of June.
Consumers receive certain protections or benefits, such as subsidised rates or exemptions from price increases in the protected category.
On July 6, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the FIA to hold an inquiry against the officials and officers of the power distribution companies who are involved in charging extra units in the electricity bills of the customers.
Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi directed the FIA to collect data of all distribution companies (DISCOs) providing relief to protected consumers. He had voiced serious concern over the inclusion of protected users in the non-protected category.
He ordered all FIA directors to check the data of discos and submit a report while giving the task of collecting all the evidence in three days.
Meanwhile, the Federal Investigation Agency summoned the chief of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and others for investigation.
