The National Assembly legislative body has recommended the National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to make its public complaints cell more effective for the redress of consumer’s complaints.
A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was held on Monday at the Parliament House with Dewan Aashiq Bokhari, in which a comprehensive briefing was given over National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).
During the meeting the Standing Committee showed strong concerns regarding the public complaints cell which was not facilitating consumers in the country. Legislators said that on certain occasions complaints were registered with NEPRA however immediate steps had not been taken to address those complaints.
They emphasized the need for immediate steps to make the authority accountable and to bring certain reforms to it. The legislative body recommended NEPRA officials to strengthen the consumer affairs section of the authority to make it friendlier and to facilitate the masses.
To provide cheap electricity to consumers through alternate resources, the standing committee asked NEPRA to facilitate solar power technology and assist those companies which wanted to invest in the sector.
The legislative body also asked the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure their presence during the next meeting for a comprehensive discussion over certain issues of NEPRA.
The legislative body asked NEPRA officials to submit copies of an agreement between NEPRA and power distribution companies. It also showed concerns over the appointment of Chairman NEPRA, and directed officials to give details pertaining to the criteria of his appointment.
During the meeting, NEPRA officials informed the committee that finances were a major issue for the body. Officials said that power generation from furnace oil was expensive compared to gas, as the generation cost from RFOs was Rs 17/kwh, gas cost Rs 7/kwh, while HSD cost Rs 20/kwh.
NEPRA asked to make its public complaints cell more effective
