PM orders 10-day extension in payment of electricity bills

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered a 10-day extension for electricity bills payment, according to an official announcement.

The announcement was made by the Power Division.

The Power Division has issued directives to all electricity distribution companies to implement this extension.

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The deadline for payments of bills for July and August 2024 has been extended by 10 days.

The announcement states that the Prime Minister issued these instructions in light of the difficulties faced by electricity consumers.

As power consumers are already overburdened by record-high electricity tariff, overbilling allegedly on the part of distribution companies’ various field formations has rendered them stunned. The extension in deadline for electricity bills payment will bring some relief for the overburdened masses.

Moreover, Jamaat-i-Islami has been leading ongoing protests against inflated electricity bills.

Meanwhile, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), certified overbilling by all power Distribution Companies (DISCOs), including K-Electric, for April and June 2024. The Nepra, in its showcause notices to the companies has directed them to provide explanations and has mandated corrective actions.

According to an official statement, the Nepra officers have compiled their report on the issue of receiving excessive bills to consumers during April to June 2024 and submitted it to the authority.

“The report found all Distribution Companies including K-Electric were involved in overbilling,” said the Nepra’s statement.