Iesco drops bombshell on consumers after Eidul Azha

Rawalpindi

Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has dropped bombshell immediately after Eidul Azha by issuing bills of 45 days which are highly inflated and beyond the reach of consumers to pay.

A large number of consumers were seen visiting the sub stations of Iesco at Kalma Chowk, Tariqabad, Adiala, Mareer Chowk with complaints of receiving bills containing excessive amounts.

As the affected consumers approached the related staff for correction and getting their problems rectified, they received negative response in this regard. The Iesco staff members expressed their inability to correct the bills or resolving the issue. Instead they held the secretary Iesco responsible for issuance of highly inflated bills. 

The staff members on condition of anonymity also claimed that the electricity tariff was high because of which people are receiving inflated bills. They also alleged that the charges included in the bills do not match the date of reading. Rather amount of electricity tariff charged in the bills is of 45 days. Only the authorities concerned including the minister and secretary could rectify the issue of inflated bills. As several consumers resisted, the staff in order to cool them down asked them to clear their bills in instalment otherwise their electricity connection would be disconnected.

A good number of consumers while talking to this correspondent at Kalma Chowk and Adiala Road Sub stations expressed great annoyance over issuance of highly inflated bills of electricity by Iesco. 

According to their allegations, the calculations of amount made in their bills do not match the total units they consumed and that too when power outages remained common during the heat stricken month of August. 

Over the years, Iesco has developed a practice of issuing inflated electricity bills to its consumers through wrong meter readings and incorrect calculations. While the consumers are targeted by Iesco through excessive bills, the concerned minister Abid Sher Ali does not take positive steps to rectify the situation in favour of the people, alleged the consumers.

The consumers have appealed to Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and chief justice of Pakistan to take notice of the matter and direct the concerned high ups in Iesco for taking immediate measures for rectifying the situation. The consumers demanded 50 per cent concession in charges of electricity tariff issued in their current bills enabling them to clear the same on time.

When this correspondent approached Iesco Director General (Administration) Mushtaq Ahmed and brought the matter of complaints of consumers with regard to highly inflated bills of electricity and the backing of Iesco concerned staff of several sub stations, he without denying assured of taking measures in order to remove the complaints of consumers. “I would direct the general manager, Customer Services of Iesco to take measures for rectifying the complaints of the consumers by providing them additional period to clear their payments besides providing them enough relief in total amount charged in the electricity bills. The matter and complaints of consumers would be resolved amicably,” the director general assured.