March 28, 2008	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1429

SUKKUR, March 27: Power consumers of Sukkur and Rohri owning air-conditioners, will be charged by the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Hesco, for minimum 500 units every month during summer whether they use the appliance or not.

This was stated in an order issued by the Hesco and communicated to the revenue office recently. The order would be effective from billing month of March.

The policy would remain enforced during summer and even if a consumer would not consume 500 units, Hesco would issue him a bill ‘for consumption of 500 units.

Meanwhile, the local organisations and consumers have strongly resented the Hesco policy and termed it discriminatory.

They said the Hesco staff itself was involved in theft of electricity who were out to cover up their line losses and stolen units by shifting the burden over to the consumers who use air conditioners during sizzling summer.

They demanded of the authorities to take notice of Hesco policy.