Power minister cracks down on unjustified electricity detection bills

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has ordered strict action against electricity distribution companies (Discos) over excessive and unjustified detection bills, warning that consumers will no longer be subjected to arbitrary charges.

The minister issued the directives during an important meeting with the boards of directors of electricity distribution companies, where he called for comprehensive reforms to improve billing practices and protect consumers from unfair treatment. He stressed that although eliminating electricity theft remains a national priority, innocent consumers must not be forced to bear the financial burden of irregularities they have not committed.

Leghari said electricity distribution companies must ensure transparency and accountability in their operations while taking effective measures against power theft. He also emphasised the need to regulate the discretionary powers of field staff to prevent the misuse of authority and ensure that billing decisions are made according to established rules.

Under the proposed reforms, the Power Division will require all electricity distribution companies to issue detection bills exclusively through a centralised online portal developed by the Power Information Technology Company (PITC). The move aims to standardise the billing process, improve oversight and minimise the possibility of arbitrary charges being imposed on consumers.

The new directive prohibits field staff and sub-divisional officers (SDOs) from issuing manual detection bills at their discretion. Any official found issuing such bills in violation of the new instructions will face disciplinary proceedings and potentially severe penalties.

The government intends to introduce these measures to ensure that detection billing follows a transparent and verifiable procedure. The centralised system is also expected to reduce opportunities for misuse of authority and provide greater protection to consumers who may otherwise face excessive or unjustified electricity charges.

The minister clarified that action against electricity theft would continue without compromise. However, he maintained that efforts to curb illegal electricity connections and power theft must not result in the harassment of law-abiding citizens. The reforms are intended to strike a balance between enforcing electricity laws and safeguarding consumer rights.

As part of the initiative, the Power Division is preparing comprehensive amendments to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM). The proposed changes will establish clearly defined timelines for different consumer-related procedures, helping ensure that electricity distribution companies resolve billing and meter-related issues within specified periods.

Another key measure concerns defective or burnt electricity meters. Under the proposed framework, distribution companies will be required to replace such meters immediately or within a maximum period of two billing cycles. The requirement is intended to prevent consumers from facing prolonged billing uncertainties because of damaged or non-functional meters.

The reforms will also restrict average billing during the meter replacement period to a maximum of two months. This provision aims to prevent consumers from being charged estimated amounts for extended periods while waiting for their meters to be replaced.

The proposed amendments are expected to strengthen accountability within electricity distribution companies and establish a more consistent mechanism for handling consumer complaints and billing disputes.

The initiative comes amid concerns about excessive electricity bills and the treatment of consumers by distribution companies. By introducing centralised detection billing, stricter disciplinary measures and defined timelines for meter replacement, the government aims to improve the credibility of the electricity billing system.

The Power Division is expected to submit the proposed amendments to the Consumer Service Manual in the coming days. Once implemented, the measures will require distribution companies to follow standardised procedures while ensuring that action against electricity theft does not unfairly penalise ordinary consumers.