Islamabad: Soaring electricity bills have added to the financial difficulties of residents, with consumers complaining that digital meters, delayed meter readings and the existing 200-unit billing threshold are making electricity increasingly unaffordable.
Residents say digital meters were introduced to improve accuracy and transparency, but many consumers now complain that their electricity consumption appears to rise rapidly, with 200 units being reached within a few weeks during the summer. Some households claim they are even avoiding the use of fans and other appliances to prevent their monthly consumption from crossing the threshold.
Consumers have also raised concerns over the timing of meter readings. They say readings that were previously taken around the 7th or 8th of each month are now often recorded around the 15th, potentially pushing consumption beyond the 200-unit limit and resulting in substantially higher bills.
Many ordinary households are reportedly receiving monthly electricity bills ranging from Rs15,000 to Rs20,000. Consumers argue that even limited electricity usage can result in bills of Rs14,000 to Rs16,000. A widely circulated social media message claims that a bill for 200 units may be around Rs2,800, while crossing the threshold by just one unit can significantly increase the payable amount.
The issue has triggered growing criticism of the billing mechanism, particularly reports that the impact of crossing the 200-unit threshold may continue for several months. Consumers argue that any higher tariff should apply only to the month in which the threshold is exceeded.
Iesco Executive Engineer Saifullah Khan Afridi acknowledged that consumers frequently approach officials with complaints about excessive bills. He said a penalty for exceeding the threshold should apply only once and described the existing situation as unfair. He added that the online billing system has limited the company’s ability to provide relief and urged the government to review the mechanism.
