Businessmen have urged the government to abolish the Time of Use (ToU) metering on electricity bills as general consumers have to pay high rates of electricity during the peak hours due to the prevalence of the metering system in the country.
According to a report by the Express Tribune, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that the ToU metering was introduced in Pakistan at a time when the country was facing a shortage of electricity and this system was enforced to discourage the use of electricity.
However, he said that now Pakistan is producing surplus electricity as according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2019-20, the installed generation capacity of the country has exceeded 36,000MW while the maximum utilisation of electricity in peak season was around 23,000-25,000 MW. He was of the view that there was no justification to continue with the ToU metering.
Honorable President Advise is relevant. May I seek to suggest this to utilise the Smart Metering benefit to the consumer, as well as the Utility to consider as they played a major role in the “Capacity Building” move.
Below average consumers which are limited to electric fan, LED bulb, Radio, LED tv, includding Senior Citizen, PWD, Retired, Self Employed but with low income proven fro FBR, should be given relief for sustaiability from the utility.