LAHORE, Oct 22: Scores of consumers of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) protested on Wednesday in 10 localities against, what they call, ‘grossly inflated bills’ and officials’ refusal to entertain complaints.

Demonstrations were reported from Gujjarpura, Sheranwala Gate, Misri Shah, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Ghalib Market, Shahdara, Nisbat Road, near Anarkali and Tollington Market on The Mall, Muhammadnagar, Garhi Shahu and Kot Lakhpat.

Lesco’s customer service centres were inundated with complaints regarding inflated billing, but the company offered only correction in meter reading and installments in bills. Some angry consumers also tore down their bills in protest and refused to deposit their dues.

Hundreds of consumers, of Gulshan-i-Ravi and Sanda gathered outside Lesco’s Moon Market in Gulshan-i- Ravi customer service office to get their utility bills corrected. They shouted slogans against the Water and Power Development Authority after the staff refused to cut the amounts in bills except inflated units mentioned in bills. The mob tried to besiege the office, but police baton-charged them and dispersed them.

Gulshan-i-Ravi Station House Officer Khalid Farooq said more than 100 consumers turned up at the customer centre but after the staff’s refusal to correct them, the consumers held a strong demonstration.

He, however, did not confirm or deny police baton-charged the protesters. In another protest, over four dozen power consumers, including women, of Gujjarpura and Misri Shah, protested outside the Lahore Press Club against ‘excessive’ billing.

Carrying their electricity bills, they complained that Lesco officials were not entertaining their complaints.

Score of people from Firdaus Market, Makka Colony and Guru Mangat Road lodged a protest near Firdaus Market against long-hour power outages.

Lesco Chief Executive Akram Arain told Dawn that the staff issued electricity bills in old format to consumers which did not include a recently announced surcharge of Rs1.22 per unit by the federal government. He said he had directed the staff to issue either two installments or extend due date for bill payment for the convenience of consumers.

“The new additional surcharge will be notified by the Water and Power Ministry soon which will clarify the situation,” he said.