LAHORE: Power defaulters owe a total of Rs244.79 billion as 10 major electricity distribution companies have published names of 45,914 defaulters with outstanding bills of Rs1 million or more on their websites, Express Tribune reported on Wednesday.
In a bid to reduce defaults and raise funds several distribution companies have compiled a list of all the defaulters owing Rs1 million or more and have published their names online and have also set a deadline for defaulters to clear their dues. The list of defaulters shows that a majority of the 41,221 defaulters appear to be connections for tube wells for agricultural purposes. Moreover, 4,693 out of these have already seen their connections and power supply discontinued.
Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) reported the highest number of total defaulters with 27,042 connections, meanwhile, the total dues collectible by QESCO are in excess of Rs211.33 billion. Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has a total of 8,219 defaulters with Rs13.34 billion in uncollected dues. Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO) has 2,421 defaulters with Rs4.72 billion in outstanding dues, while Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO) with 6,494 defaulters had a total of Rs59.29 billion in receivables from defaulters.
Courtesy: The Express Tribune
Moreover, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) listed 395 defaulters owing over Rs1 million has to collect Rs730 million in outstanding dues, while Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has 460 customers, with a total collectible amount at Rs3.5 billion.
Multan Electric Supply Company (MEPCO) has 324 defaulters with Rs170.13 million in dues, while Gujranwala Electric Supply Company (GEPCO) has 30 defaulters with Rs166.2 million in dues. Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has 30 defaulters with outstanding dues of over Rs1 million, with total outstanding dues of Rs107.1 million.
Federal Energy Secretary Irfan Ali made remarks that the names have not been published online to humiliate anyone but are published only in an effort to motivate and persuade them to pay their dues and fulfill their responsibility towards the nation.
