The Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has formed teams to raid houses, which are using gas generators and will disconnect meters of these houses, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The step has been taken to save gas for industrial and power sectors, which are suffering badly in summers as well. According to the company’s estimates, around 40 percent gas is being consumed by domestic users, leaving other sectors in a problem. The teams of SNGPL are checking every area of the city so that gas could be saved. In the past, domestic consumers used gas for geysers and heaters during the winter and there was a shortage only in winters, but for the last two years, use of gas generators has witnessed a sharp increase in the domestic sector causing a huge shortfall of gas even in summers.
The company has no option but to curtail gas for power, CNG and industrial sectors, an official of the SNGPL said adding that looking at the sharp increase of using gas generators at home, the company decided to check houses, which are using gas generators.
Interestingly, many houses are using heavy generators and even run air conditioners on gas-fitted generators, which eventually create a gas shortage. SNGPL officials said that the company has evolved certain parameters for checking houses, which are using generators during load shedding. The company also raids houses on information and tip-offs of neighbours. The major parameter is a monthly bill of gas, which remains less than Rs 1,500 in summers.
“If a house has two or three stoves then its gas bill never increases than Rs 1,500. It is an easy way to judge consumption of the house and if the bill goes above this level, then we check the house,” an official of a raiding team said adding that it is very necessary that domestic users should remain careful in using generators or else there gas connections would be disconnected.
SNGPL teams have disconnected around 100 connections this season and it is triggering fear among consumers. The official said that according to law, domestic consumers could not use gas to generate electricity and it is clearly defined in the law, that if any domestic consumer tries to use gas other than kitchen use, then his connection could be closed.
“It is clearly written in the demand notice, which are signed by users that their connections could be closed if they are found using gas for other activities,” he said.
“Generators often create a lot of noise pollution and neighbours get irritated and inform the company about use of generators and we raid that house,” he said adding that the company is not very strict in cutting connections rather it gives maximum leverage to consumers. “We don’t disconnect gas of houses only on pretext of a high bill rather we also ask consumers about their point of view,” he added.
Beware! SNGPL out to sniff out gas generators
