Gas utility bills included an additional charge under the header of ‘security shortfall’ this week, a cost amounting to around Rs450. But the bad news didn’t end there since consumers across the country will have no choice but to pay this amount every month for at least the next four months. “Consumers were caught off guard when they came to know about this additional amount. And to continue to do so for the next four months is disgusting to say least,” said Hamza, a local resident. Hamza went on to add that the bill did not include a specified reason for the additional charge. Instead, he said, consumers have been directed to visit their nearby utility companies’ offices if they wish to know the reason behind this charge. “This is the height of bad governance and one of the top examples of how bad management has been imposed on gas utility companies,” he said. Meanwhile, when contacted, an official said that the security amount has been increased under the directions of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). The official said, domestic users will now be charged Rs 4,500 compared to the Rs 1500 previously being charged. This amount will be collected in phases, he added. Khalid Mustafa adds from Islamabad: Pakistan’s newly elected PML-N led government has increased the security deposit fee for existing domestic gas consumers by 200 percent to raise Rs14 billion and prevent both gas utilities —- Sui Southern and Sui Northern from imminent default, the News learnt on Wednesday. The decision comes with a huge gas tariff hike also on the cards; both are certain to multiply the financial miseries of existing domestic gas consumers. The oil and gas regulatory authority (Ogra) has to this effect increased the security deposit fee by 200 percent from Rs1500 to Rs4500, reveals the official document a copy of which is available with the News The harsh decision means existing consumers will have to pay an additional Rs 3000 in gas bills over the next 6 months. This will be in the shape of installments under the head of security deposit or rebate/ adjustment. Future gas consumers will have to pay Rs4500 as security deposits. The inflated gas bills under the head of rebate/adjustment have been issued to the consumers from this month. According to top officials at Ogra, Sui Southern and Sui Northern gas company had submitted a petition seeking a rise in the security deposit fee which had been fixed at Rs 1500 from 1996. In 2002, after the establishment of Ogra, both the gas utilities were no more in a position to jack up the security deposit fee on their own. As per the assertion of both the gas utilities in the petition, the gas is sold out to domestic gas consumers on credit of 45 days and in case of non-payment, the gas supply is disconnected after the lapse of 45 days and during the said period, the utilities sustain monetary loss much more than Rs 1500. The regulator has accepted the plea of both the gas companies and increased the security deposit fee from Rs 1500 to Rs 4500.
Posted on: Tue, 03 Sep 2013 06:08:33 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015