Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
I think… Bijli is only hope of Pakistanis to get easy entry in Jannat… 
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
…And then Pappu Patwaris say Nawaz Sharif and his brother and his children did not promise a ‘revolution’. I thought Nawaz League was the most ‘experienced’ bunch to deal with energy crises hence they got elected?
People of Pakistan are getting robbed by this government. Companies are blatantly overcharging without government showing any sort of concern for the people. Then they and their supporters have gall to suppress the voices of people who are asking in fits of anger that why, just why, are they getting billed to death. Yes, asking Nawaz Sharif’s government such behaviour is anti democratic, anti state and anti Islamic behaviour.
Massive over-billing by power companies
By Khaleeq Kiani
Published Sep 20, 2014 06:15am
[TABLE=“class: media media–left one-whole palm–one-whole, width: 650”]
— Illustration by Abro
ISLAMABAD: A preliminary analysis of random data of electricity distribution companies (Discos) has found massive presumptive billing, overcharging and increase in system losses, leading to an outburst of public anger and increased consumer complaints.
These initial findings are based on evaluation of about 150,000 consumer data across 10 distribution companies of Wapda (Water and Power Development Authority) conducted by a team headed by prime minister’s special assistant Dr Mussadik Malik.
*Also read: Penalty for over-billing; reward for detecting power theft
*
Malik is expected to submit a report to the federal cabinet on Sept 22 (Monday) that would suggest lifting a ban on recruitment of meter readers.
“We have moved a summary for fresh inductions and hope to get approval for induction of at least 50 per cent against vacant posts of meter readers immediately,” a water and power ministry official confirmed. He declined to give the number of vacant posts but said the shortage was in tens of thousands.
According to informed sources, Malik has also identified removal of slab benefit, higher electricity consumption in July and August and the pressure on the workforce of distribution companies to improve recoveries as some of the reasons behind a public unrest.
It has been noted that about 30 to 35pc billing was taking place in a presumptive manner because of a serious shortage of meter reading workforce because of a continuous ban on fresh recruitments for more than a decade now.
This means that about a third of total meters are not read and billing is done on the pattern of previous months or years. Simply put, reading of each meter takes place every third month on average.
The overall financial impact of estimated billing, overcharging, cooked-up consumption was estimated at about Rs15-16 billion for July.
The situation was almost the same in August that led to an uneasy discussion during a meeting of the federal cabinet a few days back. The prime minister directed Malik to investigate the issue and submit a report.
Reports were also received where electricity units were added in case consumption was in close range of higher rate slab. For instance, a consumer having actual monthly consumption of 190 units should be charged Rs5.79 units for 100 units and Rs8.11 per unit for next 90 units. However, the reading was intentionally increased to 205 units, which raised the rate to Rs12.9 per unit.
The rate for consumption above 300 jumps further to Rs16 per unit. Consumers having digital time of day meters are at double disadvantage because they are straightaway charged at Rs12.50 per unit for off-peak and Rs18 for peak consumption even if they consume less than 200 units and do not qualify for protected or subsidised category. About 65pc of consumers fall in the category of 200-400 unit consumption per month.
An official of the water and power ministry said the increase of just a few units in this case resulted in an increase of Rs900 for a consumer.
There is little chance a consumer could notice this change in reading because of almost a 10-day gap between meter reading and bill delivery.
Perhaps this was the reason that consumer complaints were unprecedented during the months of July and August in majority of distribution companies except in case of Peshawar Electric Supply Company where a programme supported by a US fund required photo-read of meters.
He, however, claimed that there was no evidence or indication to suggest any instruction from the power ministry or systematic approach to building bills. There was, however, clear indication that as the power supply was increased in some cases to 16,500 MW, the losses of power companies increased which showed the tariff increase was also resulting in increased theft or pilferage.
Therefore, the distribution companies have been asked to ensure at all costs the full payment of electricity they procured from the central power purchase agency (CPPA) or else be held accountable for failure.
Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2014
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
There you go. Typical Nawaz League crooks once again refusing another investigation from taking place. They must really hate the word and the practice of investigation and we all know why. Really, so this so called popular government really doesn’t matter if its voters are getting robbed? Maybe it is the government that robbing them that’s why…who knows.
Ministry rejects probe commission’s letter over fast power meters
By The Newspaper’s Staff Reporter
Published Oct 25, 2014 06:46am
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.—AFP file photo
LAHORE: Reacting sharply to a letter of Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission claiming that distribution companies (Discos) have installed new meters which run at least 30-35 per cent faster than the old ones, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Water and Power has termed it “unauthorised, pre-mature and presumptive”.
Questioning the source of the assertion, the spokesperson said that the commission should have substantiated how it had arrived at this conclusion. The cabinet has already ordered audit of Discos on overbilling, which is still under process.
***Know more: New power meters are 30-35pc faster than old ones: commission
“Before the conclusion of the audit, no individual or institution should comment on the situation, leave alone draw conclusions,” he insisted.
According to preliminary results of the audit, there has been no change in bills of 67 per cent consumers. Some 17 per cent belong to the high (over 700 units) consumption category and they have also not reported any change in the bills. Only 16 per cent falling between 300 and 700 units category have suffered slab burst.
Their higher slabs were because of excessive usage, rather than overbilling. During the holy month of Ramazan and Eid holidays, the sector provided 18 per cent extra electricity to avoid loadshedding. It generated power even through highly expensive plants like Nandipur, where it cost over Rs40 per unit, the spokesperson says.
All this was done to avoid loadshedding. Because of this additional supply, people used more power and bills were catapulted in higher slabs, he added.
But these are only preliminary results and one should not reach any conclusive position. Once the audit results arrive which may take another week or so, things would become clear. In the meantime, neither any individual nor institution was authorised to draw its own conclusions or go public with them, he concluded.
Published in Dawn, October 25th , 2014
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
Im sorry but I dont buy this.
Units read by these meters are KWH, and be it new or old, this unit remains the same. Just like minute remains the same minute whether its a new watch or old. If however hypothetically these meters are running faster than there is an issue with calibration of these units. These units are calibrated according to international standards and calibration certificates are backed by High Voltage & Short Circuit (HV & SC) Lab. KEMA, Holland.
And it is near impossible to have certified meters that read KwH faster than old ones.
It is just a perception that meters are running fast. If any one has a problem, please get it tested by SGS, or TUV. Both are third party calibration and testing companies in Pakistan, on the basis of their reports an action will be taken. Public is always gonna cry on mehangai and mehngi bijli, mehnga ata. Another factor that may be in play is that billing of initial units is at a lower rate, after 200 or 300 units the rate increases and keeps on increasing exponentially. This practice is standard and used worldwide, to limit electricity use by consumers, by providing subsidized base units necessary for everyone at lower rates, and charging premium on excess electricity used. @Jolie Ihv been following your posts and all of them are perfect examples of critical criticism, please be logical and try and see other side of the story too before badgering all political parties in one go, name calling, and personal attacks. This attitude never helps and only aggravates readers rather than informing them.
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
Jolie you do realize that in the two articles you posted, the Commission was appointed by Nawaz Sharif and is headed by his adviser right? How the government be responsible for corruption when its the one saying "Hey look corruption".
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
One should know that users of around 200 units a month in Pakistan are considered as low electricity consumers and considered as poor family. Government of Thugs always lied that they did not increased electricity tariff for such families. Here is actual electricity bill of an average lower middle class family.
[Note: first 200 unites should be at lower rate … that means, over 200 unites, prices must have increased many fold more than it is given here].
Electricity tariff increases … check … from actual electricity bill given above:
Dec 2007: 354 units … Rs 1370
Sept 2010:354 units … Rs 2835
(In ~3 years, electricity tariff increased 107 percent).
Increase during Zardari period:
Dec 2007: 354 units … Rs 1370
Aug 2013: 361 units … Rs 3579
In ~6 years, electricity tariff increased 157 percent.
Thug Nawaz period:
Aug 2013: 361 units … Rs 3579
May 2014: 348 units … Rs 5272
Already increased ~53 percent in 7 months.
**Total increase during demon-crazy periods of Thugs from **Dec 2007 to May 2014:
Dec 2007: 354 units … Rs 1370
May 2014: 348 units … Rs 5272
In ~7 years, electricity tariff increased ~291 percent.
Can supporter of demon-crazy system and Thugs (Zardari and Nawaz) who are representing that system … answer, why that happened … any reason?
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
New power meters are 30-35pc faster than old ones: commission - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
“As observed, fast speed had been adjusted on demand of the company to increase revenue. It has also been learnt that major bulk of meters got defective after a few days (of operation) and give exorbitant readings than the standard speed. Observing the situation, the company adopted a strategy of replacing the defective meters with new ones and correct meters, but the situation has not been improved so far. Many defective meters found slower than standard had not been reported due to apparent reason that benefit goes to the consumers,” the letter says.
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
Government decides to increase Electricity Prices , NEPRA issues notification
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
^ fuel prices go down and electricity goes up
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
^ Abh Nawaz Uncle of Kiya kehain, this comes to my mind…
Re: Pakistanis paying highest electricity bills in the region
**
Dawn.com@dawn_com 1h1 hour ago
Each electricity unit has become costlier by Rs1.30