Consumers Overbilled by Rs35 Billion, NEPRA Reveals Major Discrepancies in Electricity Billing

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has uncovered that electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) have overbilled consumers by over Rs35 billion between April and June 2024. According to a recent NEPRA report, more than 1.3 million consumers were issued inflated detection bills, with several major DISCOs implicated in the malpractice.

The report specifically highlights that Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO) overbilled consumers by Rs13 billion, followed by Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) with Rs7.6 billion, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) at Rs3.7 billion, and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) with Rs1.5 billion. A total of 70,506 consumers were affected by these erroneous bills.

NEPRA has condemned these actions, stating that the detection bills were issued without proper verification or justification, resulting in an unjust financial burden on consumers. The authority has also raised concerns about the increasing corruption within these companies, which has contributed to the widespread overbilling issue.

The regulator emphasized that such billing practices not only harm consumers but also undermine trust in the power sector, calling for greater accountability and consumer protection in electricity billing.

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This disclosure follows NEPRA’s previous announcement on December 19, 2024, regarding its pursuit of legal action against 71 cases of excessive billing across various DISCOs. The regulatory body has warned that fines may be imposed on these companies following the completion of legal proceedings.