SWABI: The local residents on Saturday complained the Peshawar Electric Power Company had sent them inflated bills for March.

Qaisar Khan of Maneri Bala area told Dawn that he failed to understand why the Pesco overcharged him like other power consumers in the area.

Another local resident, Ghazi Khan, said he was shocked and distressed at getting over Rs32,000 electricity bill for the last month though he’d few electric appliances at home. He said he had no option but to approach the relevant Pesco to correct the bill though the exercise was stressful.

Shamasur Rehman, a security guard of Panjpir area, complained the Pesco sent him Rs4,000 bill though he lived at a small place with a small family.

He said it was ironic that the electricity units consumed by his family were far more than what the bill showed.

The guard said he had removed gas connection from his house last month after being much frustrated at the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited issuing him an inflated bill of Rs14,000.

He said the family used firewood to cook food.

“I’m utterly astounded to know about the use of so much electricity by my family though the summer season has yet not set in. We use electric supply to light bulbs only,” he said.

Another local resident, Abbas Ali Khan, claimed his family used 100 electricity units but was charged for 300 units. “The issuance of the Rs3,200 bill is unjust,” he said.

He insisted the Pesco officials delayed the correction of inflated bills.

Mohammad Hanif of Topi city said once he was pushed from pillar to post for getting the power bill corrected. “In most cases of the excessive billing, the Pesco officials don’t correct bills and ask consumers to pay bills in installments,” he claimed.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2016