Plainclothes persons verbally identifying themselves as KESC officials are visiting various households four to five times a month causing panic, especially among womenfolk under so-called "disconnection campaign". "These people come four to five times every month in the name of checking power theft at my home at about 2 pm, which causes my family mental anguish," claimed Shahid, a resident of Block 5-C, Nazimabad.
According to residents of different areas of the city, the company's inspectors continue disconnecting their power supply on unproven charges of excess utilisation of electricity. These 'inspectors' have also blamed residents for 'dismantling' the electricity meters forcibly on "so-called" findings that consumers have been rising more electric appliances than the sanctioned power consumption.
KESC's power consumers of Tauheed Manzil in Soldier Bazaar alleged that the company's inspectors were charging Rs 3000 to Rs 8000 fine per house, without providing them with the official receipts. "We were threatened of registration of FIR with area police if they were not given the bribe [so-called penalty]," complained the affectees of Tauheed Manzil.
The residents of Block 5-C Nazimabad, also complained that they were completely disturbed over the frequent visits of KESC's 'inspection teams' who every time introduce themselves as staff members belonging to a new zone and force them to enter their homes. The residents of Rufee Homes, and Haroon Bungalows at University Road, Gulistan-e-Johar, also complained that a KESC team had removed almost over 50 meters of various customers on "power theft" charges without any notice.
Interestingly, soon after removing the connections, they alleged, some other staff members of the company restored connection without electric meters by getting at least Rs 200 to 500 as bribes from each household. According to corporate law, sources said, no employee can enter the customer's house without permission. It is because of that reason that meters are installed outside houses.
It is to mention here that Revenue and Production Department and Theft Deduction Cell of KESC had started the campaign through different inspection teams consisting of four to five members. However, when contacted, the official spokesman of KESC said there was no directive from the company to charge penalty from customers.
"The team was only assigned to check the power theft and report it to the centre," he said, adding that however, the team members could disconnect supply to the accused customers if they were given instructions from the zonal office. "Only what we do is to bill the unbilled units, estimated and verified by the KESC officials," he added.
He further advised the customers to contact the centre for any complain regarding the disconnection campaign, through e-mail address speakup@kesc.com.pk. He said that the customers should not deal with any person or staff of the company without ensuring that he has the service card, employee number and other identifications. The uniform, however, is not mandatory for the company staffs, he added.