K-ELECTRIC sent an SMS message to consumers informing them that electricity bills could be paid even after the due date. I also received this message. Sadly, this is not the case.

I am a retired person living in Gulistan-i-Johar. All my children are either abroad or in the federal capital. I received my electricity bill and as my home is far from a commercial area or bank, and I was also feeling unwell I decided that I would pay when I went out to fetch groceries. This was a day after the due date.

I went to the branch of a major local bank but the staff said I would have to pay the late fee as well. I even showed the branch manager the K-Electric message on my phone. He said that he sympathised with my predicament but since he had received no notification in this respect, he did not have the authority to waive the late fee. I had no alternative except to pay the additional surcharge. Furthermore the bill that I have been sent is on average billing basis, and this too is on the higher side.

This is a request to the authorities to issue a notification in this regard and ensure the utility refrains from sending average bills.

Mansoor Siddiqi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2020