KARACHI: Electricity distribution companies are reportedly using a new strategy to conceal line losses and are allegedly overcharging consumers by Rs 8.5 billion.
According to a recent report, these companies are billing consumers for more electricity than they actually receive from the grid, effectively shifting the financial burden of line losses onto legitimate users.
The report indicates that the total overbilling amounts to Rs 8.44 billion, reflecting the companies’ operational inefficiencies.
The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) is at the forefront, with an overbilling amount exceeding Rs 2.39 billion. The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) are also implicated, collectively overcharging consumers by over Rs 3 billion.
Additionally, the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) has been reported to have overcharged Rs 17.3 million. Other companies, including FESCO, GAPCO, MAPCO, and KESCO, are also involved in these overbilling practices.
The report accuses these companies of inflating consumer bills in a non-transparent manner to hide their data on line losses.
