ISLAMABAD: A shocking audit by the Auditor General of Pakistan has uncovered a massive electricity overbilling scandal involving eight power distribution companies (DISCOs), defrauding consumers of Rs244 billion during the 2023–24 fiscal year.
The report reveals that Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Lahore (Lesco), Hyderabad (Hesco), Multan (Mepco), Peshawar (Pesco), Quetta (Qesco), Sukkur (Sepco), and Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (Tesco) overbilled consumers to conceal line losses, electricity theft, and operational inefficiencies.
In a single month, five of the companies overcharged 278,649 consumers by Rs47.81 billion. Over 900 million extra units were billed during the year without holding any officials accountable.
Qesco emerged as the worst offender, inflating agricultural tube well bills by Rs148 billion to hide its underperformance. Another Rs22 billion was overbilled under the pretext of “load adjustments.”
Audit teams also flagged Rs18.64 billion in inflated charges through 1,432 feeders, but their requests for supporting documentation were ignored. Although some refunds were issued — including Rs5.29 billion for faulty meter readings and Rs2.18 billion from Pesco in credit adjustments — auditors found no sufficient evidence for most refund claims.
The Auditor General has demanded immediate explanations and documentation from all implicated DISCOs.
