Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has banned manual detection bills at electricity distribution companies (Discos) and ordered all such charges through a centralised online portal.
Leghari issued the directives during a meeting with Disco boards on Friday. Discos use detection bills to recover past dues linked to slow meters, electricity theft or other technical issues.
The Power Division will require all detection bills to pass through a portal developed by Power Information Technology Company (PITC).
Field staff may no longer issue manual or discretionary detection bills. Such billing will count as severe misconduct and may bring disciplinary action and major penalties.
Leghari said tackling electricity theft remained a national priority. “Arbitrarily burdening innocent citizens will not be tolerated,” he said.
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The framework also sets limits for faulty meters and billing adjustments. Discos must replace defective or burnt meters immediately or within two billing cycles.
Average billing during that period cannot exceed two months. For slow or fast meters, recovery or credit adjustments can cover only the previous two billing cycles.
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A proposed rule would limit charges for illegal abstraction by general consumers to three billing cycles. The Power Division plans to submit amendments to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM) in the coming days to set binding timelines.
