Water and Power Secretary Zafar Mahmood on Thursday told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) were over-billing consumers to compensate for their losses. The PAC meeting was held under the chairmanship of Nadeem Afzal Gondal to review the objections raised by the audit of WAPDA and Ministry of Power and Water, during which the water and power secretary said DISCOs were involved in false and additional billing. The secretary further informed the meeting that 20 sub-divisional officers (SDOs) were suspended for over-billing in Lahore and latest technology and equipment was being used to cut down line losses and electricity theft. He added that line losses of DISCOs amounted to Rs 22 billion, while the gap between revenue and expenses stood at Rs 280 billion. PAC Chairman Nadeem Gondal said he had to call President Asif Ali Zardari to end load shedding in his constituency and President Zardari had to call the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) general manager to resolve the issue, adding that over billing was a serious issue. PAC member Noor Alam said most areas of the country were without electricity for 20 hours daily, while bills remained unchanged. Alam recommended the abolition of DISCOs in favor of the WAPDA system. The PAC also sought a report from Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) over the issue of manufacturing of transformers by private companies. Earlier some parliamentarians also accused power utilities of indulging in wrongdoing in load management.
