Residents sue Bahria Town over excessive electricity bills

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has demanded explanations from the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), and Bahria Town following a flood of resident complaints about inflated electricity charges and deductions on solar power, Dawn news reported on Monday.

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Petitioners, represented by lawyer Umar Ijaz, allege that the discrepancy between IESCO and Bahria Town’s electricity bills has turned payments into a revenue source for the housing society. They claim that despite approaching NEPRA, no relief was granted, and their protests resulted in their electricity meters being disconnected by Bahria Town.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb indicated that NEPRA needs to address these grievances promptly. The court’s order said, “Regulator/NEPRA is expected to afford an opportunity of a hearing to the petitioners and take such measures in accordance with the law as are necessary before the next date of hearing.”

The petition also details how Bahria Town began its own electricity distribution in 2002 without a proper licence, sourcing power from the national grid. A 2005 complaint from a resident about disconnection led NEPRA to instruct IESCO to supply electricity to the resident, but IESCO did not comply, leading to a show-cause notice that went unchallenged.

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Last month, Bahria Town reportedly imposed excessive tariffs exceeding IESCO-approved rates by up to Rs 15.66 per unit, along with unjust adjustments and unauthorised service charges. The petition also highlights unauthorised deductions of 30 per cent from solar power users’ exported units.