Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has taken strict notice of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) imposing excessive and unjustified detection bills on consumers, warning that no incorrect or arbitrary detection bill will be charged to any consumer in the future.
Addressing a meeting with the Boards of Directors of DISCOs today, the Federal Minister issued formal directives to implement a stringent and comprehensive reform framework. He underlined that while curbing electricity theft remains an unquestionable national priority, arbitrarily burdening innocent citizens will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Under this framework, the discretionary authority of field staff is being strictly regulated to protect consumers while ensuring no hurdles are created for honest officers performing their duties against power theft. In light of the Federal Minister's directives, the Power Division is mandating that all DISCOs issue detection bills exclusively through the centralized online portal developed by the Power Information Technology Company (PITC).
A complete ban has been enforced on the issuance of manual and discretionary detection bills by field staff or Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs). Issuing manual bills will be officially treated as severe misconduct, liable to strict disciplinary proceedings and major penalties against responsible officials.
Under this framework, comprehensive proposed amendments to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM) will be submitted in the coming days to bind every process within clearly defined timelines. Furthermore, replacing defective or burnt meters immediately or within a maximum of 2 billing cycles has been made mandatory, while average billing during this period will be restricted strictly to a maximum of 2 months.
The Minister emphasized that the era of arbitrary billing is over, and the government is committed to digitizing the entire process to ensure transparency. He noted that the PITC portal will provide a digital trail for every detection bill, making it impossible for field staff to manipulate records or harass consumers without accountability.
The Boards of Directors have been instructed to monitor the implementation of these reforms on a weekly basis. Any failure to comply with the new directives will result in immediate administrative action against the heads of the respective DISCOs.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Energy has directed the DISCOs to launch a public awareness campaign to inform consumers about their rights regarding detection bills. Consumers are encouraged to report any instances of manual billing or extortion to the Ministry's dedicated complaint cell.
The government aims to restore public trust in the power sector by eliminating the culture of over-billing. By streamlining the process through technology, the Power Division expects to reduce consumer grievances significantly while maintaining a firm stance against electricity theft.
In conclusion, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari reiterated that the protection of the common man is the top priority of the current administration. He warned that any official found violating these new protocols would face severe consequences, including potential termination from service.