The government has decided to launch special recovery drive against the defaulters of electricity distribution companies (Dicos) after it got a green signal from Awan-e-Sadar. The decision was taken at a review meeting of Discos held on Monday with Ahmed Mukhtar, Minster for Water and Power, in the chair.
The meeting was attended by Secretary General to the President, Salman Farooqi, Zafar Mahmood, Secretary, Water and Power, Chairman, Energy Management Cell, Managing Director, NTDC, M.D. PPIB, CEO AEDB and the Chief Executive Officers of all Discos. The data for billing and collection for FY 2011-12 was discussed and various targets were given to the CEOs of Discos for the current financial year. It was emphasised that up to mark billing and full collection would ensure maximum generation and mitigation of the current load shedding in the country.
Following important decisions were also taken: (i) Discos would immediately start special recovery drive whereby all defaulting premises will be disconnected and reconnection will only be allowed after full clearance of dues. All disconnections are scheduled to be made in the coming 15 days ;(ii) all tiers of field officers and other functionaries of the Discos will be accountable for non-recovery and ;(iii) where necessary officials would be proceeded against under the efficiency and disciplinary rules which could result in imposition of major penalty.
The list of premises, houses, shops etc alongwith addresses which had previously been disconnected due to default will be released to the media and would also be placed on the individual/relevant Discos' website. The citizens will then be requested to inform the Discos about any illegal supply to disconnection premises, so that no defaulting premises is provided electricity till such time the outstanding bills are cleared.
It was also decided that distribution feeders where the recovery was less than 60 percent will be outsourced for bills collection within one month through a proper procedure. Furthermore, a decision was taken whereby recovery against defaulters whose connections have already been cut would be outsourced to effective professionals'entities. The meeting ended after fixing collection targets for individual Discos and with the resolve that no defaulter would be allowed to enjoy the facility of electricity until and unless the outstanding amounts were paid in full.