Overbilling of Rs244 billion sent to 20 million consumers: audit report reveals

Islamabad (Web Desk): The latest report by the Auditor General of Pakistan has revealed that eight distribution companies sent additional electricity bills amounting to 90.46 crore units to consumers in the fiscal year 2023-24. The report also uncovered alleged financial irregularities in the accounts of these companies.

The overbilling occurred in IESCO, LESCO, HESCO, MEPCO, PESCO, KESC, SEPCO, and TESCO. Five of these companies overbilled consumers by a total of Rs 47.81 billion, with 278,649 consumers receiving additional bills worth Rs 47.81 billion in just one month.

According to the report, Rs 22 billion was overbilled under the guise of additional load charges to cover line losses. Additionally, it was revealed that KESC had overbilled agricultural consumers by over Rs 148 billion.

Furthermore, Rs 5.29 billion, related to incorrect meter readings, was refunded to consumers. PESCO also provided Rs 2.18 billion in multi-credit adjustments to its consumers.

The distribution companies sent an extra bill of Rs 18.64 billion for 1,432 feeders. Since the beginning of the current government, efforts have been made to reform overbilling and incorrect readings.

The Power Division is working on reforms to ensure transparency in the overbilling system. This report pertains to the previous fiscal year when most of the period was under the caretaker government.