Power consumers will have to pay 14pc markup on instalments

Braving the highest-ever electricity tariff, hapless consumers seeking instalments to pay heavy bills because of financial difficulties are now legally bound to pay a 14 per cent markup on delayed payments and will be disqualified from subsequent part-payment facilities for a year. This is in addition to a 10pc late payment surcharge (LPS) if a bill is not paid within the deadline prescribed on the consumer bill. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has notified this through an amendment in the Consumer Service Manual (CSM) on the demand of the Power Division and its subordinate distribution companies (Discos), but it would also apply to K-Electric consumers. However, the regulator rejected a series of drastic punitive actions against electricity consumers, including heavy urgent fees for new connections on priority, restrictions and penalties on multiple connections at one premises, and an increase in penalties on detection bills issued by power companies for suspicious consumption, such as slow meters, defective meters, or theft.