ISLAMABAD: The water and power ministry told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday that reduced electricity loadshedding during the month of Ramazan, end of subsidy on electricity tariff and one per cent increase in the General Sales Tax (GST) had put extra burden on consumers.

The water and power ministry submitted a report with the IHC during the hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders regarding overbilling of electricity.

In the report, the ministry claimed that consumer complaints of overbilling had been addressed by the electricity distribution companies.

The report claimed that the distribution companies did not overcharge consumers. IHC Justice Athar Minallah adjourned further hearing in this matter for three weeks.

In the petition, PTI leaders Asad Umar, Arif Alvi and Shireen Mazari contended that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and the electricity distribution companies issued unjustified bills every month.

The petition alleged that Pakistan power distribution companies (Discos) sent inflated bills for the months of August and September without prior information and legal justification.

The petition said excessive bills had created difficulties for domestic consumers as well as business owners and hampered industrial growth.

The petition alleged that the respondent authorities – Nepra and Discos – were overcharging consumers every month to maximise their revenues.

It requested the court to direct respondents to submit a detailed report on usage and billing for the year. The court was also requested to direct Discos to refund extra money received from consumers as a result of overbilling.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2014