Pakistan Electricity Consumers Get Relief as Manual Detection Bills Are Banned

Federal Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has prohibited manual detection billing by electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), mandating them to generate such bills exclusively through a unified online portal. The directive comes after receiving grievances regarding exorbitant and potentially erroneous detection bills imposed on consumers.

During a meeting with DISCOs' executive boards, Leghari emphasized the need to curb electricity theft, but cautioned that innocent consumers should not bear arbitrary financial penalties.

Under the revised framework, all detection bills must be processed via the centralized online portal managed by the Power Information Technology Company (PITC). Field personnel and sub-divisional officers will no longer be allowed to issue manual or discretionary detection bills. Manual billing will be deemed serious misconduct, subjecting the responsible officials to disciplinary actions and substantial penalties.

The Power Division plans to propose amendments to the Consumer Service Manual to set precise limitations on meter replacement, average billing, and detection charges. For defective or burned-out meters, replacement will be required within a maximum of two billing cycles, with meter performance adjustments limited to the preceding two billing cycles.

The proposed framework will restrict detection billing for ordinary consumers engaged in unauthorized electricity usage to three billing cycles, whereas registered consumers will have a six-month window, and unregistered consumers will be capped at 12 months.

The DISCO boards of directors and their customer services committees have been directed to review detection bills monthly, scrutinizing their accuracy, transparency, and the legitimacy of recoveries. The Power Division claims that these reforms aim to prevent protracted retrospective billing, bolster accountability, and shield consumers from charges not aligned with established rules.