LAHORE:The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has allegedly started fleecing consumers on the pretext of ‘pro-rata consumption’, converting protected consumer category to non-protected and charging them heavily beside sending inflated bills to other consumers.

Various consumers contacted Dawn and showed sufficient evidence in this regard. On the other hand, an inquiry has also been launched by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in this regard, Dawn has learnt.

Under rules and regulations, the monthly bills are calculated on 30-day electricity consumption on the date of reading by the meter readers. If the duration of 30-day consumption is complete on 26th of every month and the meter reader takes the reading a couple of days before, the number of units consumed between 24 and 26 will be charged on the basis of assumption. If the number of units is 180 on the 24th and the number of units mentioned in the bill is 210, it means that the difference of 30 units has been calculated on the basis of an assumption that is called ‘pro-rata consumption’.

“An official came to take reading on June 26. I was present there. The reading appearing on our two meters was 187 and 194. It means we were under the protected category for which the unit cost is much lower than the non-protected ones. But he wrote the billing date as June 24 and the units as 207 and 215, respectively, taking us out of the protected category. This resulted in doubling of our electricity bills,” explained a consumer, Nazir Ahmad, of Lal Pul.

FIA launches probe into allegations

“When I asked, he (meter reader) couldn’t give a satisfying reply,” he added.

When Ahmad went to the SDO (Salamatpura), Shalimar division who understood the situation well and wrote to the area revenue subdivision of Lesco to issue a bill as per actual units consumed on the actual meter reading date. But when he went to the revenue officer he refused to issue the bill as per actual units.

“The officer called the SDO, stating that the bills have been calculated on the basis of pro-rata consumption as per the orders from the top. Though the SDO argued, the revenue officer didn’t agree,” the consumer said, adding that he also lodged complaints online to the quarters concerned but to no avail.

Similar complaints were also lodged by various other consumers of this locality in particular and others in general.

“The same has also happened to us as the meter reader took us out from the protected to non-protected category,” complained Akhtar, another consumer. He demanded the ministry of energy, the Lesco chief executive officer and others concerned to take notice of the situation.

On the other hand, Lesco officials continue fleecing the consumers using more units than 200.

“As per reading on the reading date, the number of units on my meter was over 460 or so. But when I received the bill, it had 740 units. Though I also tried to contact the meter reader, he was not available. I went to the SDO office (Airline subdivision, Johar Town) but in vain,” complained a consumer of Johar Town.

A senior official of Lesco admitted that it was unfair to the consumers.

“It is true and an inquiry has been launched by the FIA in this regard,” the official, requesting anonymity, confirmed.

According to the FIA letter, the director general (IT) and director (customer service) of Lesco have been summoned with immediate effect.

The FIA is probing allegations that Lesco deliberately charged excessive units to electricity consumers with the intention of removing them from the protected category.

“For the ongoing probe, you are directed to appear (in person) before the undersigned at the FIA office without fail. Non-compliance of this notice may entail that there is nothing to say in defence and the instant enquiry may be finalised on the basis of available evidence,” warns the letter written by the FIA inquiry officer on July 5.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2024