February 12, 2002	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 28, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has restored, at its own, the subsidy to domestic consumers exceeding 1,000 units monthly power consumption with retrospective effect from Aug 8, 2001.

Brig Waseem Zafar told Dawn that in response to the public sufferings arising out of the withdrawal of subsidy under the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) directive, Wapda would itself absorb the financial burden of around Rs280 million.

A Wapda notification to all its electric supply companies said: “In view of the inconvenience and financial hardship being faced by the domestic consumers, the authority in its meeting on Feb 9 decided that the low slabs benefit shall continue to be available to tariff-A consumers (domestic and places of worship) having consumption above 1,000 units with effect from Aug 8, 2001, and its financial impact shall be absorbed by Wapda itself.”

Waseem said the bills sent to the consumers this month and containing new rates would be adjusted in the bills of coming month. Every rupee collected from the consumers would be returned and their rates would become normal as per the benefit of lower slabs, he added.

This means that every domestic consumer would be charged at Rs2.14 per unit for first 100 units, Rs3.03 per unit for next 200 units, Rs5.32 per unit for next 700 units and Rs6.71 per unit for units exceeding 1,000.

Under the Nepra directive, the subsidy to Wapda consumers with monthly consumption exceeding 1,000 units was abolished last month and they were required to pay arrears in lump sum with retrospective effect from August 2001.

This had increased the electricity bills of this category of around a million consumers by an average 50 per cent applicable since Aug 8, 2001.

Later, the Wapda had announced to stagger the arrears and said these would be recovered in instalments.

Under a directive of the Nepra, people touching 1,000 units monthly consumption level were categorized as ‘rich consumers’.

Normally, an air-conditioner running eight hours daily can easily push a consumer into 1,000-unit bracket.

Waseem said power disconnection to Azad Kashmir had been postponed for a day on an assurance from AJK Electricity Secretary Sardar Mushtaq and Chief Engineer Iqbal Khan.

He said: “They (AJK officials) have agreed to pay a substantial amount on Tuesday morning and if (we) were not satisfied with the amount the power supply would be disconnected on Tuesday at 10.am.”

He quoted the AJK officials as saying they could not clear the whole amount in lump sum due to financial constraints but a substantial amount would be paid on Tuesday morning.

He said power supply to the Survey of Pakistan, the PWD and other government departments would be disconnected on Tuesday as well.

A disconnection notice was also issued to the Capital Development Authority on Monday to clear their dues by Wednesday or face shutdown.

A decision had been taken not to allow the public sector linger on payment of bills and this would be implemented with full force, he said.