POWER tariffs in Pakistan are very high compared to other countries, amongst the highest in the region. This is adversely affecting economic growth. The ever-increasing electricity tariffs are making citizens’ lives more miserable every day.

All sorts of charges besides electricity production cost are added to consumers’ bills. Thus, the people are made to pay for the inefficiencies of the state, such as circular debt and the interest thereon, non-receivables, theft, all sorts of technical losses, the government’s guaranteed high profit on investment in power generation, payment for installed capacity not consumed, and – last but not least – the obscenely high consultants’ salaries.

If the government and power suppliers are charging consumers for everything while Nepra –which should look out for consumers’ interests — remains deaf, it is only fair the power suppliers pay the consumers for electricity not supplied. They should also pay consumers for the poor quality of electricity supplied, which damages costly domestic appliances. The authorities should do the needful to safeguard consumers’ interests.

Engr Riaz Bhutta

Lahore

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2018