Lesco shows ‘efficiency’ at consumers’ cost: LAHORE: As government pressure grows on Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) to improve its bill collection and financial health, the company has fallen back on its time-tested formula: grossly over-charge consumers, slap massive detections bills at mass level and use faulty meters to manoeuver units and bills. The company officials deny any shortage of meters, but concede that their field formation was using the meters issues to make money, both for themselves and the company and punish the “non-compliant” consumers. “Over-billing suites everyone; it brings more money for the company to show performance and it fetches extra bucks for the staff that now sells meters to the highest bidders and charges those who don’t pay,” says a company official. “This year, the company received two very threatening letters from the ministry, holding the chief executive personally responsible for improving bill collection, bringing down line losses (controlling corruption) and recovering dues from the defaulting consumers,” says a former head of Lesco. --- The system ‘flaws’ consumers lament about are in fact the company’s favourite tactics --- “After these letters, the former chief executive was arrested on so-called corruption charges and rigging the power supplies. The new CEO came in with this background in mind. His attention is riveted on bill recovery and line losses. But he is presiding over a formation that has grown lethargic over the years and prone to corruption. Thus, the easiest way for staff is to over-bill all vulnerable consumers (who don’t grease their palms) where ever possible; showing a decrease in line losses and improving company’s income. That is the easiest way, and the company always falls back to this position when pressure grows from above. That is what is happening right now,” he concluded. “My meter got burnt in February. I duly informed the Lesco staff and also applied for a new meter as instructed by the sub-division,” says Malik Ijaz of Baghbanpura area. “The new meter is yet to be installed and what I am getting is highly inflated bill. This is in-built mechanism in the Lesco billing system, and they don’t hide it,” he added. “If a meter is declared faulty, the Lesco computer calculates 12-month average, which also includes the highest billing summer months and bills the consumer. Thus, the very system is hostile to the consumer. It thus suites the company; save the meter for highest bidder and let the computer punish a consumer. This is institutional punishment, programmed in computers of the company; and being done with impunity,” he regretted. “The company neither has transformers nor meters, or at least people don’t get them even if their claim of having these gadgets in sufficient quantity is to be believed,” says Muhammad Ramzan of Samanabad. In the absence of both these basic power supply and measurement gadgets, what people are getting is killing bills. “As if the most expensive rates of electricity are not enough to strip people of their basic livelihood, institutional decision to inflate bills and punish millions of people to prove efficiency of a few, is a sure recipe for social disaster. The nature has provided some relief, but billing, which is exceptionally high would surely inflame people,” he feared. “In July, the company traditionally sends very high bills because it has to make-up for losses and inefficiency of the entire last year,” concedes a former Lesco employee. “In July, it recovers bills of June, which is last month of the previous fiscal. Thus, the entire burden of inefficiency shown during the last year, high line losses and financial deficit falls on this month. This is a cyclical problem that people suffer every July and this one has not proven to be any exception. Hopefully, if past is any guide, the next month would be relatively easier as the Lesco would be under less pressure to show financial results. But as far as meters and transformers are concerned, the situation would persist,” he warned. Despite repeated attempts, director operations Javed Iqbal could not be reached for his version on meters supply situation. Director customer services Khalid Mahmood, however, was of the view that two factors – increase in tariff and revising the slab system – have raised the bills. “People normally compare their bills with last year’s to arrive at the conclusion and both these factors now impact the final figure. But if there are cases of over reading, they should be reported and the company is duty bound to look into them,” he maintained. Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2014
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 09:53:07 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015