The Power Division and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) have locked horns over the persistent issue of over-billing, highlighting a rift in their assessments.
The Power Division has released a preliminary report questioning the validity of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) investigation into consumer over-billing. The report claims flaws in Nepra’s investigation methodology, including biased sampling, quality control errors, data processing inconsistencies, and overlooking operational difficulties faced by electricity companies.
While acknowledging that more than 381,510 faulty meters led to inaccurate billing, the report reveals further discrepancies. In July, over 4.5 million customers received inflated bills exceeding 32-34 days, impacting 846,468 consumers due to slab changes and 198,166 due to shifts from protected to non-protected categories. Additionally, 11,276 consumers faced bill adjustments after transitioning from lifeline to non-lifeline categories.
August witnessed similar issues, with over 5.5 million consumers receiving inflated bills, 825,562 affected by slab changes, 113,879 shifted from protected to non-protected, and 6,217 transitioned from lifeline to non-lifeline.
The Power Division report presents a different perspective on the over-billing issue, raising concerns about the accuracy and methodology of Nepra's investigation. This clash underscores the need for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure fair and accurate billing practices for electricity consumers in Pakistan.
