PM warns of strict action against inflated electricity bills

ISLAMABAD: Expressing his annoyance over inflated electricity bills, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that the overbilling by power distribution companies was unacceptable.

Chairing a review meeting on the performance of electricity distribution companies (Discos), PM Shehbaz warned that strict action would be taken against officers involved in overbilling. 

He directed to complete the installation of smart meters as soon as possible to ensure transparency in the billing system and called for concrete steps to prevent electricity theft.

Besides other matters, affairs related to Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) were discussed in the meeting, read a statement issued by the PM’s Office.

PM Shehbaz expressed concern over the delay in the appointment process of chief executive officers (CEOs) of the distribution companies and directed for ensuring CEOs’ appointments through a highly transparent process and asked for its completion at the earliest.

Recruitment of workforce in distribution companies should be merit-based, with no compromise on transparency, he further added.

The prime minister said that all the available resources should be utilized to meet the targets of Nepra.

Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Power Division Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, Prime Minister’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, and senior government officials attended the meeting.

The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the achievement of targets which included recovery rates (up to November of FY 2024-25): Lesco: 96.82%, Pesco: 87.98%, and Fesco: 97.57%.

Earlier this month, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) decided to initiate legal action against K-Electric (KE) and other power-providing companies after it was found that they were charging millions of consumers excessively.

“Legal proceedings against all Distribution Companies including KEL under NEPRA Fine Regulations, 2021 for violation of the provisions of NEPRA Act, CSM and tariff terms & conditions etc,” a statement issued by the power regulator said.

The authority took “very serious” notice of the complaints that were reported from all over Pakistan regarding excessive, inflated, and wrong bills charged by the distribution companies to the consumers during two months — July and August.