RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has allegedly charged lifeline consumers of the district more than 150 million additional units in the bills of April.

According to Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) rules, users of 50 units a month are considered ‘lifeline consumers’ and receive electricity bills up to Rs135 a month. But thousands of such consumers in Rahim Yar Khan district allegedly received bills of Rs400 to Rs500 for April as Mepco authorities could not control the unusual line losses during the last three months.

According to some Mepco sources, only in Rahim Yar Khan tehsil the company charged 4.5 million additional units from its 48,454 lifeline consumers for April.

Maximum electricity theft was reported in the Jinnah feeder where 15,654 lifeline consumers were charged 1.1 million additional units, 4,651 lifeline consumers of city feeder 627,885 additional units, 9,936 Seattleite Town feeder consumers 993,600 additional units, 9,360 consumers of Gulshan feeder 936,000 and 8,893 Bahadurpur Chowk feeder consumers 889,300 additional units in the bills of April.

Theft was being cited as the main reason for line losses that was at its peak for the first time after establishment of Mepco.

Mepco Rahim Yar Khan Sub-Engeineer Wakeel Ahmed Nadir claimed he was unaware of charging of additional units from small consumers however the executive engineer could provide details.

He said Mepco had started a crackdown on electricity thieves and arrested a shopkeeper in Sadiqabad. He admitted to high theft of electricity in the district.

Mepco Chief Executive Muzaffar Ali Abbasi said he was not aware of the issue but would be able to comment on Friday (tomorrow) during a visit to Rahim Yar Khan.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2015

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