Power Division on Thursday failed to satisfy a panel of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) about factual reasons for over-billing in the power sector and redressal measures, particularly in far-flung areas of the country. The panel comprising former prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Leader of the House in the Senate, Syed Shibli Faraz, maintained that those consumers who are being over-billed are not being treated properly by the power Distribution Companies.
Secretary Power Division, Irfan Ali acknowledged that over-billing cannot be denied, adding that the base of this issue is theft and losses. He argued that units which are stolen or billed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency Guaranteed (CPPA-G) are parked in the bills of consumers. "Corruption and theft are the main causes of over-billing and massive crackdown has been launched against electricity thieves in all Discos," he said, adding that the prime minister has also started a complaint cell.
According to Secretary Power Division, the easy targets for over-billing for Discos are government buildings and installations and added that Disco employees are complicit with power thieves.
Secretary power informed the meeting that Discos depend on meter readers and to minimize human involvement there is a need for AMR meters and AMI system. He said, in the past, both these systems were also implemented partially in Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and Multan Electric Supply Company (Mepco); and the Sindh government has replaced its manual meters with AMI system. The federal government is also launching these systems with financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Secretary who claimed to have served in four provinces as a civil servant further stated that over-billing and theft cannot be curbed without punishment and reward. Joint Secretary (Power Finance), Zargham Eshaq Khan informed the PAC panel that Discos received 277,000 complaints from July 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019, of which 7939 complaints were related to theft. He stated that the largest chunk of complaints, i.e, 100,800 complaints were related to Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sepco).
"We still have issues in Speco areas where complaints are on the higher side," Zargham said, adding that over-billing complaints in other Discos are comparatively less. He stated that large numbers of complaints are related to tripping and noted that these complaints are addressed within 3-15 days.
Secretary Power Division noted that almost all Discos were on the list of entities being privatized due to which there was no recruitment even at critical posts which was creating big gaps. However, the incumbent government has started recruitment process in these critical posts; he also stated that there are not enough meter readers due to which meter reading is not being done properly in far flung areas. Zargham Eshaq Khan stated that the remedy of overbilling lies in removal of human intervention.
Senator Shibli Faraz enquired from the officials of Power Division if they have conducted an analysis of complaints as figures show that 98 per cent complaints are addressed in some areas whereas in other areas the situation is different. Zargham Eshaq Khan replied that they do conduct analysis but acknowledged staffing issues in some areas. Secretary Power gave the reference of Balochistan where staff can not undertake frequent visits. Sidra Iqbal, a representative of Audit General of Pakistan, stated that Discos play with numbers for overbilling.
Senator Shibli Faraz, who appeared angry at the overbilling justifications given by the Power Division, stated that Pakistan is facing this situation for the last 70 years which is compounding inequality. He said people are disrespect by Discos and forced to visit again and again. People are asked to pay their "inflated bills" on the promise that the bill will be adjusted in the coming months.
Senator Shibli Faraz further stated that there is no sense from the minister to lowest government servant to treat people with disrespect; and opined that a "linemen" has a higher status than a grade 18 officer working in the federal Secretariat. He asked officials of Power Division to share a list of the top 300 running defaulters but the Power Division did not have any such list.
Secretary Power Division stated that corruption is in our "society''s blood" saying "as a nation we have to come out of this state of denial." He further stated that "society is a partner in theft and it is being done in connivance with the relevant officials which cannot be denied". He said that 70 feeders in Sepco have been exempted from load shedding after removal of hooks and replacement of meters. Now MNAs are approaching him, seeking help to remove hooks and for uninterrupted supply.
Former Prime Minister/ Water and Power Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf stated that the panel is more concerned with over billing and maintained that over billing is due to the faulty slab system. Faisal Ismail, a representative of Auditor General of Pakistan stated that over billing is intentionally generated through some feeders.
In reply to question, Zargham Eshaq said that presently subsidy of Rs 86 is being extended to those domestic consumers who use up to 300 units monthly and in case the previous slab system is revived, the government has to give additional subsidy of Rs 18 billion.