Electricity Overbilling Scandal: Following the Nepra scandal, the Ministry of Energy has also revealed overbilling by electricity companies to consumers.
According to details, the investigative committee set up by the Power Division has admitted excess billing by electricity companies towards millions of consumers. In response to Nepra’s investigative report, the Power Division has also prepared a report in which it confesses to faulty meters, unauthorized changes in consumers’ slabs, and other irregularities associated with excess billing.
In the report, the Power Division authorities criticized the methodology of preparing the Nepra team’s overbilling report, declaring it incorrect and ineffective. The report also identified errors in data processing, including quality control.
Read more: Ministry of Energy forms committee for investigation into overbilling scandal
The Power Division stated that during sampling, the Nepra team demonstrated bias and did not adequately consider the operational challenges faced by electricity companies.
The investigative committee formed by the Ministry of Energy stated in its report that in July, over 4.5 million electricity consumers were billed for more than 31 days, with 400,000 consumers receiving bills for 32 to 34 days.
The Power Division admitted to excess billing for 381,510 consumers due to faulty meters and revealed that in July, 4,543,717 consumers were billed for more than the stipulated days. Additionally, 846,468 consumers were affected by changes in slabs in July.
The report disclosed that in July, 1,981,166 consumers were moved from protected to non-protected category, and 11,276 lifeline consumers were shifted from non-lifeline to lifeline category. The Ministry of Energy’s report mentioned that in August, 5,574,275 consumers were billed for more than the specified days, affecting 825,562 consumers due to changes in slabs.
Read also: Major scandal of overbilling emerges from electricity consumers
The Ministry of Energy’s investigative team also found that in August, 1,138,879 consumers were moved from protected to non-protected category, while 6,217 consumers were shifted from lifeline to non-lifeline category.
