PESHAWAR: As the Peshawar Electric Supply Company is about to complete the first phase of replacing old power meters, consumers insist the new digital meters are generating inflated bills.

According to them, the USAID-sponsored meters spin very fast and thus, producing inflated bills.

Under these circumstances, people from low-income groups have opted for illegal use of electricity to ease their misery.

The people from different localities have begun protest demonstrations against the Pesco for replacing their meters without any reason and demanded installation of their old meters again to resolve the issue pertaining to increase in monthly bills.

Consumers claim USAID-sponsored meters spin very fast

According to officials, in the first phase, work on the installation of 130,000 is in progress in the provincial metropolis. Gradually, all old meters in the province will be replaced.

“Till recently, I have never received my monthly bill more than Rs1,000 but now, it has inflated up to Rs3,000 or above,” said Rahim Khan of Faqirabad.

He said the government should take notice of the consumers’ problems and stop installation of new meters.

Another consumer, Shakil Wahidullah, said Wapda had violated rights of the people by replacing old meters as majority of them had paid for hundreds of units in advance but they were not given the credit and that old meters were removed without taking consumers into confidence.

About the sensitivity of meters, he said it was the duty of the power company to create public awareness of new digital meters, saying unawareness had caused huge financial losses to the people.

He raised several questions for replacing old meters and urged the power company to create awareness among the people.

However, Pesco spokesman Shaukat Afzal denied new meters were faster than the old ones saying basic reason for higher power bills was misuse of electricity on part of ‘negligent’ consumers.

“The new meters are so sensitive that if the charger is plugged without cell phone set, they will charge one unit in 24 hours,” he said, adding television or any other electronic appliances would also consume electricity even if there’s on standby.

He said consumers should also avoid excessive use of power, especially during the peak evening hours otherwise they would have to pay extra charges. He said if the gadgets are used in more than one room would definitely cause increase in the bills. He said all the instructions were given on the bills but consumers were least bothered to pay any heed towards them. he said the meters were accurate to show the actual consumption.

Shaukat said power theft and tampering with of meters was very common and those found doing it would have to face legal action.

He said during the last two months, 1,296 of the total of 11,833 meters were found tampered with at the Pesco Meter Testing Laboratory and that a fine of Rs33 million was imposed on those involved in it.

“During the checking of domestic, commercial and industrial power meters installed in Peshawar, Khyber, Mardan, Bannu, Abbottabad and Swat circles, many were found tempered with for theft of electricity. All those involved in it were fined according to the consumer’s actual load and the percentage of tampering,” he said.

The Pesco spokesman said 11,833 meters, including 9,799 of single phase and 2,034 of three phase, were sent to laboratory for checking during last two months and a total of 1,296 of them, including 1,151 of single phase and 145 of three phase, were found tampered with for electricity theft.

He said a fine of Rs33 million was imposed on consumers concerned.

The spokesman said the campaign against illegal use of electricity was in full swing throughout the province.

“The people are warned against thieving power to prevent legal action,” he said.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2015

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