Lesco service centres fail to redress consumers' grievances

The customer service centres of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) have failed to redress consumers' grievances, as the concerned circle dispatches a new inflated bill before the information regarding correction of previous one reaches to it. Consumers have received final notices from various LESCO circles on account of non-payment of previous bill while they have already deposited corrected amounts in the banks. A large number of consumers were found rushing to the customer service centres with final notices for removal of electricity meters. They were informed by the service centres' staff that dispatching of the bill correction procedure to the concerned circle takes time therefore, the relevant revenue staff fails to make a timely entry to the computer before generation of bill for next month.
Interestingly, the customers' centres are operating the correction procedure manually while the revenue offices in different circles of the Company are generating bills electronically. Such a half-cooked arrangement is costing the consumers an arm and a length, as he rushes to the customers' centre for correction of bill first, followed by another visit to the revenue officers for intimation of the same before next month bill.
Furthermore, the meter readers also draw shaky pictures from their mobile sets to the extent that it becomes difficult for revenue staff to assess correct figures on the meter. Resultantly, the customers are being charged to the extent of 500 additional units on account of misreading of pictures taken by the meter readers. The electricity consumers have urged the Federal Minister for Power Division, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari to take stock of the situation in order to get them out of a miserable situation.
Meanwhile, the meter readers, revenue officers and circle authorities are already up in their arms against the punishment of three years for over billing and wrong billing. Situation on the ground is becoming from bad to worse as the relevant staff is reluctant act prudently.