ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Thursday examined audit objections related to the Ministry of Energy for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and expressed strong dissatisfaction at unjustified refunds and large-scale overbilling by the power distribution companies (Discos).
JUIF MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali presided over the committee meeting after members unanimously decided to run the committee proceedings through a rotational acting chair in the absence of Chairman Junaid Akbar.
Audit officials briefed the committee that the consumers were burdened due to errors in billing segregation, resulting in over Rs8 billion in unjustified refunds. “For a whole year, all we have heard is that the matter will be fixed ‘next time’,” remarked committee member Syed Hussain Tariq. “There should have been action against the officials responsible. How much recovery has actually been made?”
Secretary Power Division informed the committee that nearly half of overbilling pertained to Lesco alone, but Hussain Tariq expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s response. Audit authorities further disclosed that credit was issued on running meters and meter readers “do not even visit to take readings.”
Shahida Akhtar Ali told officials that what was meant for new connections was wrongly applied to ongoing ones. Mepco representatives were unable to satisfy inquiries raised by committee member Syed Naveed Qamar. The committee’s frustration deepened as two major DISCOs failed to provide convincing explanations.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry rebuked the corporations, saying they had taken the PAC proceedings lightly. The committee granted the companies concerned two months to complete verification of records.
Recruitment issues in Discos were also discussed, with officials informing the committee that Pesco had a sanctioned strength of 24,000 but operated with barely 10,000 employees. Audit officials disclosed that eight power distribution companies collectively overbilled consumers by more than Rs8 billion, prompting strong condemnation from the committee.
According to the audit briefing, Fesco overbilled Rs750 million, Gepco Rs520 million, Hesco more than Rs1.73 billion, Iesco Rs1 billion, Lesco over Rs1.8 billion, Mepco Rs70 million, Pesco Rs2.39 billion and Qesco more than Rs90 million.
According to the audit officials, 293,572 consumers were given slab or tariff relief between 2018 and 2023, despite the facility being permitted only for disconnected consumers — not for active ones.
PAC member Syed Hussain Tariq questioned what action had been taken against officers involved in wrong billing, and how much recovery had been made. Lesco CEO informed the committee that an internal audit report had been submitted. The auditor general remarked that meter readers often do not visit for actual readings.
Secretary Power Division said all DISCOs now display photographic meter readings on bills, and consumers can also upload their own readings through a mobile app. Secretary power stated that some of the overbilled amounts had been refunded to consumers. The committee ultimately referred the overbilling matter to a sub-committee for further examination.
