The Power Division has barred electricity distribution companies, known as DISCOs, from issuing manual and discretionary detection bills. It warned that officials responsible for arbitrary or incorrect billing will face strict disciplinary action.
Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari took notice of excessive and unjustified detection bills imposed on consumers. He directed DISCOs to ensure that no consumer faces incorrect or arbitrary billing in future.
Minister orders reform to shield consumers from billing errors
Speaking at a meeting with the boards of directors of DISCOs, Leghari issued directives for a comprehensive reform framework. He said that combating power theft remained a national priority, but innocent consumers would not be forced to carry unjustified financial burdens.
Online portal replaces manual detection billing
A Power Division statement issued on Friday said all DISCOs must issue detection bills only through the centralised online portal developed by the Power Information Technology Company (PITC). Field staff and sub-divisional officers (SDOs) will no longer be permitted to issue manual bills, and any violation would be treated as serious misconduct.
The division will also submit proposed amendments to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM) in the coming days. The changes aim to set clear timelines for billing and meter-related procedures.
Proposed limits on meter replacement and billing periods
Under the proposed framework, defective or burnt meters must be replaced immediately or within two billing cycles at most. Average billing during that period would be capped at two months, and recovery or credit adjustments for slow or fast meters would be limited to the preceding two billing cycles.
Detection billing would also be restricted. General consumers involved in illegal electricity abstraction could be charged for no more than three billing cycles, while the maximum detection billing period would be six months for registered consumers and 12 months for unregistered ones.
Boards of directors and customer services committees of DISCOs have been told to carry out detailed monthly reviews of detection bills. Leghari said consumer protection remained a priority and that no official would be allowed to act beyond the law and applicable regulations.
