Leghari orders action against arbitrary detection-billing

Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has issued a sweeping crackdown on power distribution companies' arbitrary detection billing, instructing them to issue such bills exclusively through the central online portal of the Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC). During a meeting with the boards of directors of distribution companies, Leghari expressed concern over excessive and incorrect detection bills imposed on consumers and directed them to implement a comprehensive reform framework.

The reforms aim to regulate discretionary powers of field staff and protect consumer rights, ensuring officials can perform their duties without obstruction in electricity theft prevention. Manual detection billing will be treated as serious misconduct, with officials facing strict disciplinary action. The Power Division will propose amendments to the Consumer Service Manual, setting clear timelines for meter replacement, billing, and detection billing.

Defective meters must be replaced within two billing cycles, with average billing restricted to two months during replacements. Detection bills for ordinary consumers will be limited to three billing cycles, while registered consumers will have a six-month limit, and unregistered consumers will be capped at 12 months. The reforms seek to prevent prolonged retrospective billing and ensure detection charges are imposed within regulatory limits.