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ECC orders power sector audit, warns electricity defaulters of legal repercussions
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet on Monday decided to conduct a financial audit of the entire power sector as part of a series of planned measures to cut down its losses, sources within the ECC said.
During a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar, the ECC decided that it would introduce prepaid metres and bills for electricity defaulters.
The committee, according to sources, agreed that whosoever — including the PM house — won't clear their electricity bill would face disconnections, while their metres would be uninstalled within three months.
Furthermore, the ECC, during today's meeting, decided to create a separate committee for the privatisation of K-Electric.
The committee also expressed grave concerns regarding the Rs480 billion circular debt payments, and vowed to identify and take legal action against those responsible for financial misconduct in this regard.
The creation of a pension plan for railway employees and a mechanism to fulfill fertilizer requirement during Rabi season were also discussed.
The first meeting of the newly reconstituted ECC had taken place last week. While no conclusive decisions were taken, the meeting appeared to be setting the stage for some serious business — to make fertiliser companies return Rs10 billion windfalls to the economy and to address the root cause of power sector circular debt.
Comments (16) Closed
The EEC should consider offering a fixed dir3ct debit monthly payments so antsy arrears in the prevailing year be spread over the following year by an incremental to reduce the overall indebtedness . The effect of which is that year to year on, your monthly payments may be either increased or reduced consumption based. It will ease pressure on the middle class, when faced with highs during peak summers.
Not long ago digital two tier tariff meters were installed on alll connections. A huge amount was invested but, the results are still the same. We must find and introduce practical, rather than the fancy solutions.
All government building may switch to Solar Energy. The working timings should be set according to sunrise. .
To cut down on power theft, 400v circuits should be discontinued and consumers should be directly connected to 11000v circuit via individual consumer transformers.
theft is the biggest issue,most of the big land owner including the distt kasur and lahore are running there tube well without any electric meter,wapda official knows about it but does not do anything because they are afraid to loose there job,there are some big name politician involve in it.
Go back and look at Charter of WAPDA was created.. It was defined that : 1. WAPDA will build dam after dam.
Crook Government at the time decided that WAPDA will also distribute. In that way all influential people will get free electricity and of course, that lead to corruption by every one. Bribe employees. PRIVATIZE DISTRIBUTION . Simple solution
@Yousuf47 London that's it!
This step really show the seriousness of the incumbent Govt to crackdown on people switching illicit and illegal connection, using ten of thousands RS worth of electricity while paying bill merely in hundreds. I have witnessed to many people who colluded with WAPDA and transmission staff and causing billions of loss to national exchequer in the form of circular debt. I’m quite optimistic and looking forward to implement this very measure at earnest to curb the menace of this circular debt saga.
In that case start by disconnecting all power to all the ministries in the federal government. They are the biggest defaulters in our circular debt. On the other hand, how can people continue to get electricity if they haven't paid their bills. In every civilized country, it gets cut off after 30 days. Cutting off electricity is the only way to make people pay. All else will always fail.
if our markets are open only day time we can save quite a bit electric. same time we push for solar with reverse meters mean day time solar will produce more it go to grid station and night time consumer get back and if any different consumer get money back from the electric companies. same time we all need to be honest not to steel electric
@Magnanimous approach not practical approach
Criticism was easy, now we will know your ability as finance minister.
Massive corruption in distrbution companies is the biggest challenge for new government coupled with blackmailers of CBA. Problem can easily be solved but will requirrd
It's best to start this strict new electricity revenue collection program by (a) first of all collecting huge outstanding dues from the civil and military bureaucratic institutions (b) from all MNAS, MPAs, Senators and (c) top business and feudal personalities of the country. I'm sure that even these collections would amount to billions of rupees. Then the small domestic defaulters can be targeted , who owe a few thousands.
Instead of fancy solution explore option to allow investor to setup small or medium solar or wind power plants and give them incentives specially to support our industries.
Rather collection to be outsourced.