LAHORE: Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) provided a relief of Rs6.43 billion to three million consumers in the wake of Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA). The Rs6.43 billion sum included Rs2.187 billion and Rs2.94 billion reliefs given to 2.17 million and 1.12 million consumers who used 200 and 300 units in June, Dawn has learnt.

On the other hand, the consumers are confused about the formula applied for abolishing FPA charges for those who used up to 200 and 300 units.

“A couple of days before, I stood in the long queue for almost one hour. On my turn I showed the bill to the officials on duty. After seeing my August bill, in which I used less than 300 units, the official returned the bill to me saying that this relief is being given only to those who used up to 300 units in the month of June and not those of July or August,” a consumer told Dawn on Monday.

He said why the consumers were not informed either through SMS, social media or other means of communication about this mechanism.

According to Lesco CEO Chaudhry Muhammad Amin, the Rs6.43 billion relief was given to domestic and tube well consumers. “The total relief (Rs6.43 billion) also included relief worth Rs1.30 billion given to 46,000 tube well consumers,” he said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the company explained that the relief, at the moment, was for only those consumers who used up to 300 units in June but were charged FPA for the same month in the August bill.

“Similarly, the relief would also be applicable for those who used up to 300 units in July and August onward and are to be charged FPA for these months in their next months’ bills,” she clarified.

She said the company continued to raise awareness among the public at large in this regard through media and other modes of communication.

Meanwhile, the Lesco administration on Monday announced, holding an open virtual court on Sept 14 to resolve the public complaints related to any issue with the company. The e-courts have been started on the orders of the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2022