- Minister directs CEOs of distribution companies to eliminate electricity theft and take strict action against culprits without fear or favour
ISLAMABAD: With a target to bring an extra Rs83.2 billion into the power sector, Power Division Minister Umer Ayub Khan has directed six power distribution companies (DISCOs) to ensure 100 per cent recovery of current electricity billing, besides recovery of old receivables for Financial Year 2018-19.
The minister was presiding over a meeting of the power division in Islamabad on Friday. Power Division Secretary Irfan Ali, officials of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO), chief executive officers of DISCOs and other officials of the division attended the meeting.
The meeting decided to freeze the figures of old receivables, as on Oct 31, 2018, with a target to achieve 100 per cent recovery of current billings, besides reducing the line losses as per the goals set by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
The minister directed the CEOs of distribution companies to eliminate electricity theft and take strict action against the culprits by seeking help from provincial task forces established in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He also tasked the officials to ensure that defaulters do not use “hooks” to steal electricity, adding that operation against such culprits should be intensified without any fear or favour.
As per details, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has been tasked to ensure an extra recovery of Rs25 billion, in addition to the current billing up to June 2019, by taking appropriate measures to recover old outstanding bills, and by reducing line losses up to 1 per cent.
Similarly, FESCO (Faisalabad) was asked to recover an extra Rs2 billion in addition to current billing up to June 2019. The company was also told to reduce its line losses by 1 per cent.
Meanwhile, GEPCO (Gujranwala) would ensure an extra recovery of Rs3 billion, besides reducing line losses up to 1 per cent. Likewise, IESCO (Islamabad) has been tasked to recover an extra Rs2billion besides bringing the line losses at NEPRA’s target of 8.65 per cent.
Moreover, MEPCO (Multan) was asked to ensure an extra recovery of Rs10.2 billion besides reducing the line losses to meet NEPRA’s target of 15 per cent.
Lastly, PESCO (Peshawar) was given the task of recovering an extra Rs41billion and reducing the line losses to 4 per cent, besides recovering old receivables. Officials of PESCO were directed to ensure removal of hooks within two months.
The PESCO chief was also asked to launch an awareness campaign to educate the consumers that their tampered bills will be corrected and meters will be installed immediately after the payment of dues.
The minister on the occasion assured that no overbilling or unfair mean will be adopted to achieve the targets. He tasked the Power Division and PEPCO to form a comprehensive monitoring mechanism. “All the CEOs shall personally supervise the drive against theft and shall meet the district administration in this regard,” he added.
Ground realities are so different. How about someone seriously rid the DISCOS of corruption. All those empty diesel tanks that are claimed to be filled during audits and those societies of Gencos full of relatives of CEO’s and whatnot, shutting down own plants to facilitate IPP’s and whatnot, plants in muzarfargarh that never operated due to absence of minor issues like air filters. Its all grotesque!