HYDERABAD, June 25: The Chief Engineer of Hesco, Abdul Rasheed Khan, has announced that all the meters will be installed outside the premises of the consumers in future and not on the electric poles.

He was addressing an open katchehry at the Mehran Arts Council, Latifabad, the other day.

He said that the main purpose of establishing Customers Service Centres was to resolve the problems of the consumers without delay.

He said initially the consumers might be facing some difficulties but with the passage of time, they will realize the significance of these centres.

To a question, he said that it was beyond his powers to exempt anyone from the payment of electricity bills but held out the assurance that all the possible facilities in accordance with the prescribed rules would be provided to the consumers.

He said that detection bills were issued only after collecting a solid proof of power theft. A decision had already been taken not to impose any penalty on the domestic consumers exceeding three-month charges, he added.

Mr Khan, however, said that the consumers using air conditioners would have to pay a six-month penalty.

Responding to the complaints of low voltage in Latifabad, the chief engineer said that nine additional transformers had already been approved and situation would improve after their installation.