PESHAWAR: As part of a plan to check power theft and reduce outages, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to ask consumers using illegal connections (kundas) and defaulters to pay two years of outstanding bills with a three-month upfront payment.

The remaining amount will be collected in easy installments, according to officials.

They told Dawn that as the federal government had approved the plan, the district administrations and elected representatives would soon begin holding jirgas with power consumers using un-metered electricity and not paying bills.

The officials said the formula came after the recent outbursts of provincial Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur against the federal government over the prolonged power cuts across the province.

They’ll clear two-year bills with three-month upfront payment, while rest will be recovered in installments: officials

Mr Gandapur had warned that the provincial government would take over the Peshawar Electric Supply Company’s (Pesco) power distribution systems in case the federal government failed to reduce the duration of power suspension in parts of the province.

A senior government official told Dawn that the provincial government worked out the formula before sharing it with the federal government, which approved it.

He said the provincial government had convinced the federal government that instead of collecting 20-year arrears from defaulters, its focus should be on the collection of the dues for the last two years.

“Most people won’t be able to pay arrears for the last 20 years,” he said.

The official said the plan provided for the upfront payment of three months of arrears to be followed by the remaining amount in easy monthly installments.

He said as consumers began paying for electricity, the loadshedding hours would automatically come down in their areas.

The official said the government had the data of those with electricity meters, while the district administration and elected representatives would hold talks with those using kundas to install meters.

“We have talked to Pesco about around 150,000 electricity meters,” he said.

The official said that the regional commissioners were also briefed about the plan, and the district administrations across the province would very soon hold jirgas with power defaulters.

He said if the consumers agreed to the installation of meters, FIRs registered against them would be withdrawn.

The plan states that a pragmatic cut-off date needs to be determined for phase calculation of the arrears due of two years, and of these three months, the average arrears may be recovered in one go in order to reinstall the meter, while the rest of the arrears will be recovered in installments of one to two years. The document states that non-payment of the monthly bill may lead to the removal of the meter and the registration of an FIR.

The formula has divided the consumers into four categories: ex-metered, metered with arrears, metered with kunda, and kunda. The formula proposes that the ex-metered, metered with arrears, and metered with kunda consumers will have to pay the last two years arrears, averaged out to three months, with a three-month upfront payment. It will lead to the restoration of meters and monthly bill payments, while arrears will be collected over a period of two years.

It said that for this category, installments may ease out on regular payments for six months.

For the fourth category of consumers having only kunda electricity, the formulas stated they will also have to pay the last two years arrears, averaged out to a three-month upfront payment.

The plan also outlines that the chief minister will interact with the assembly members and local government representatives, while information ministers will hold news conferences, and social media will also be used to inform the public.

On the other hand, the information department will carry out publicity campaigns to pressure defaulters for payments.

Also, commissioners at the divisional level will lead the efforts against defaulters and electricity thefts, while members of parliament, regional police officers, Pesco officials, district administrations, and LG representatives will work to execute the plan.

The documents showed that between September 28, 2023, and May 25, 2024, district administrations across the province conducted 64,099 raids against power defaulters and thefts. Besides, 105,186 warnings were also issued during this period, while 40,904 “marasalas” were also issued.

In addition, over 20,293 FIRs were also registered during this period, and 3407 people were detained. Similarly, Rs601 million in fines were imposed for electricity thefts, while Rs12.6 billion in arrears were also recovered from defaulters.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2024