ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has appointed an independent third-party inspector for conducting testing of gas meters of industrial and commercial gas consumers to address consumer complaints of overbilling and one-sided fines.

“It is circulated for information of industrial and commercial consumers of natural gas/ RLNG that the authority in pursuance of Clause 8.2 of Natural Gas Measurement (Technical Standards) Regulations 2019 has authorised Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) on its behalf for witnessing inspection of gas meters,” Ogra announced on Tuesday.

This inspection “may include but not limited to the verification of accuracy of gas meters and field calibration of measuring devices to check compliance of the Standards specified by the Authority in the Regulations”, it said.

In this regards, the industrial consumers can request the meter testing or caliberation of measuring facilities after payment of meter testing charges of Rs10,000 for industrial consumers and Rs5,000 for residential consumers. The charges are refundable to consumers if meter is found defective (over or under 2pc margin) which is then payable by the gas utility. The inspection has to be carried out in the presence of Ogra appointed third-party inspector, ogra said.

Ogra had announced on Nov 22, 2020 year to induct independent third parties for testing of gas meters, instead of gas companies themselves. It had then invited expressions of interest (EoIs) to hire independent reputable parties to provide testing services for gas meters.

The official said a number of gas consumers had been demanding independent testing of gas meters instead of existing practice of testing by the gas companies themselves and pointing out conflict of interest.

For decades SSGC and SNGPL have themselves been calibrating, installing, de-installing and testing consumer gas meters at their own testing workshops and instituting claims against the consumers on the basis of their own judgement.

The unfair and unreasonable practice by the gas utilities companies continued for decades and had been repeatedly objected to by the industrial and commercial consumers. The Ogra’s member gas had also pointed out that both power utilities were acting prosecutor as well as judge at the same time while dealing gas meter related issues.

The industrial and commercial gas consumers had serious objection over the practice and were asking for the appointment of independent third-party inspectors.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021