ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has decided to introduce major reforms in the detection billing system to prevent inflated electricity bills, reduce human intervention and provide greater protection to consumers against unnecessary financial burdens.
The decision has been taken as part of the broader power sector reform process being led by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, with the stated objective of providing maximum relief to electricity consumers and safeguarding their rights.
Under the existing system, detection bills are issued in cases where electricity meters malfunction, technical faults occur or actual electricity consumption cannot be accurately recorded. In such cases, consumption is estimated under the relevant rules and regulations.
However, the Power Division noted that estimated consumption has, in certain cases, failed to correspond with consumers’ actual electricity usage. This has resulted in inflated bills and placed additional financial burdens on consumers, while disputes over such bills have often led to prolonged grievance redressal processes.
The existing system has also raised concerns over the possibility of human intervention, discretionary decision making and irregularities in the preparation and recovery of detection bills.
To address these concerns, the Power Division has now decided to digitise and automate the detection billing system in order to minimise human intervention and unnecessary discretionary powers in the billing process.
The Power Division has directed all electricity distribution companies to incorporate the necessary amendments into the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s Consumer Service Manual and undertake other relevant measures required to implement the reforms.
Under the proposed system, detection billing and the associated recovery process will be monitored on a monthly basis. The monitoring mechanism is aimed at ensuring the timely identification of overbilling and abnormal consumption trends so that corrective action can be taken without unnecessary delay.
The move is significant for electricity consumers who face disputes over detection bills, particularly in cases where estimated consumption is substantially higher than their normal electricity usage. The Power Division said the reforms are intended to make the process more transparent and reduce the scope for unnecessary hardship.
Federal Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the primary objective of the ongoing power sector reforms was to provide maximum convenience to consumers.
He said reforms in the detection billing system would help protect consumer rights, improve transparency in electricity billing and strengthen public confidence in the power sector.
The Power Division said the initiative forms part of its wider reform agenda aimed at improving the functioning of the electricity sector while ensuring that consumers receive greater protection through more transparent and automated processes.