Gas users check your meters… lest you pay a year’s arrears

In a bid to reduce unaccounted for gas (UFG) losses that have swelled to over Rs 3.1 billion for the country’s gas distribution companies, the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has geared up to replace slow, faulty or tampered with gas meters of consumers in Karachi.
Sources said a large number of consumers who are already paying a high gas tariff might now have to pay arrears of 12 months if their meters are not found up to standard.
They said the crisis-hit people of the metropolitan who are used to surcharges, arrears and penalties from the Karachi Electric Supply Company due to “power theft, meter tampering and hook connections” may now have to brave the same charges from the SSGC.
Consumers in some parts of the city have expressed their reservations over being issued surcharges in their gas bills, as their gas meters, despite being standard, are being replaced without prior notification or examination.
Sources said the SSGC’s fresh move was initiated after the directives of Federal Petroleum & Natural Resources Minister Dr Asim Hussain to reduce UFG losses by at least 2 percent in the next two months, as the gas utility’s losses, besides the existing shortages, are also increasing.
Hussain claimed that of the existing capacity of 4.2 billion cubic feet per day, the compressed natural gas sector, power utilities and captive power plants are being supplied 310 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd), 647mmcfd and 294mmcfd, respectively, whereas at least 307mmcfd are being lost as UFG.
The UFG loss was recorded at Rs 3.1 billion for the country’s gas distribution companies – the SSGC and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines in the first quarter of the current financial year.
Despite huge expenditures incurred to curb UFG losses, the figure peaked to 11 percent of all gas produced in the first quarter.
Confirming the move of replacing existing meters found slow or dysfunctional, official SSGC sources said compared to gas consumed or supplied, a large number of gas meters are reportedly showing lower readings.
They said the owners of the faulty meters might have to pay arrears, tariff differences or other penalties of 12 months, according to the directives of the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority.
However, SSGC Operations Deputy Managing Director Hassan Nawab said replacement of gas meters was a routine practice of the utility.
Nawab said the gas company is replacing only old meters, but if the meters are found tampered with, slow or faulty, the owners would be facing legal action and/or penalties.
He said a large volume of gas is being lost through theft and leakages on its way to the users of domestic, commercial and industrial areas.
Besides replacing old meters, he added, the SSGC is also introducing Smart Metering System in Defence, Clifton and some other areas of the metropolis.
“The SSGC charges consumers only Rs 20 meter rent, and replacement of meters would help the company reduce losses,” said the gas utility official.