Islamabad: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has been urged to substantially revise its proposed amendments to the Consumer Service Manual to protect electricity consumers from arbitrary grid-sharing charges and discriminatory treatment. In detailed technical objections submitted to the regulator, power sector analyst Muhammed Arif Bilvani argued that the proposed changes could impose severe financial burdens without establishing incremental infrastructure costs. The pushback focuses on structural reforms across multiple clauses, warning that the amendments as written could lead to excessively expensive industrial grid connections and the potential misuse of detection-billing powers by distribution companies.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The formal submission calls for robust procedural safeguards, including a complete freeze on disconnection or coercive recovery measures while disputed billing amounts are under formal adjudication. To combat predatory billing practices, the objector proposed a mandatory new provision requiring all non-normal billings—such as Irregular Bills, Assessed Bills, and unexplained arrears—to be accompanied by an explanatory letter signed by a competent DISCO officer detailing exact calculations and timelines. Furthermore, the submission demands that NEPRA remove obsolete provisions regarding metal-body electromechanical meters and address procedural compliance issues, noting that utilities like K-Electric are unlawfully enforcing fresh load surveys to delay the reduction of sanctioned loads.
