SWABI, Sept 26: Electricity consumers in the district are being excessively charged under the ‘low consumption’ head by the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company, consumers complain.

Some of the affected consumers told this correspondent that they had made a number of visits to Pesco offices to seek remedy but to no avail as the SDOs concerned were rarely found in their offices.

Two days ago a protest demonstration was held, demanding a halt to the overcharging and unscheduled loadshedding and fining consumers without any reason.

“My consumption was worth Rs1,300 in July but I received a bill for Rs9,270,” said Abdul Hadi of Swabi city. “After several visits to the Pesco office, my bill was corrected. However, in the next month’s bill, the mistake was repeated.”

Watamir Khan of the Salim Khan Canal area said: “I have been receiving a bill for Rs8,000 over the past two months. After several visits to the Pesco office where I have to put with the rude behaviour of officials, only Rs2,000 was deducted and I was told to deposit the remaining amount.

Mohammad Janab Khan said that he had consumed power worth Rs,1300 in July but received a bill for Rs8,250 for July as well as August..

This correspondent said several such bills on which officials had written ‘low consumption’ with a red pen.

Policeman Afsar Ali, resident of Dagai, said that he had consumed power worth Rs1,400 but received the bill for Rs2,361 for July as well as August.

During a visit to the Pesco office, majority of the complainants were seen complaining about this problem.

Some consumers belonging to Shaghai and Maneri Payan and other areas of the district areas said that they had repeatedly contacted the officials concerned but they had failed to take remedial measures.