Govt mulls eliminating flawed meter reading system

Amid increasing consumer frustration, the government is seriously considering eliminating the flawed pro rata system, which removes electricity consumers from the protected category or pushes them into the next slab despite their actual monthly consumption remaining within the category. “The quarters concerned (Power Division and others) have started reviewing the meter reading system. A decision in this regard is expected in a day or two, as the process is underway these days, sources familiar with the matter told Dawn on Tuesday. “We are reviewing the pro rata system, considering the consumer complaints about overbilling. We are reviewing this in a way that whether the system, introduced in March this year, has proved to be good or bad for the consumers,” disclosed a senior official source in the Ministry of Energy while talking to Dawn.