In a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Senator Palwasha Khan highlighted alarming cases of overbilling within the power sector.
In the meeting chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, Khan specifically referenced her sister's home in Lahore, where a 500-unit bill was changed to 900 units and charged a staggering Rs70,000, despite the installation of a 5kW solar system.
Senator Khan expressed her frustration, stating that her sister made 28 attempts in three months, yet the billing remained unadjusted. "Overbilling is done to reduce line losses," she asserted, adding that the bill received was handwritten, lacking essential details about the units consumed.
"What are they doing with the common man?" Senator Khan questioned.
In response, Energy Minister Awais Leghari denied that the customer care issue did not exist in the entire power sector. "Lack of customer care is a major weakness of our institution," he admitted.
Leghari also mentioned the ongoing discussions about reducing the profit margins of independent power producers (IPPs), suggesting that in a few weeks there will be good news through mutual consent.
"We expect to deliver good news through mutual consent in the coming weeks, ensuring there will be no violation of the agreements in place," he stated.
The meeting underscored the urgent need for reforms in customer service and billing practices within the power sector, as lawmakers strive to protect consumers from unfair charges.
