Despite PM Khan’s directives, K-Electric includes fuel adjustment charges in April bill
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SITE chief Suleman Chawla has complained in the Ministry of Power to restrain K-Electric from collecting Industrial Support Package Adjustment (ISPA) charges from the industrial consumers
KARACHI: Despite assurance of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) early this month, K-Electric, the only electricity supply company in Karachi, has included fuel adjustment charges of Feb-May 2018 in its electricity bill issued for April 2020.
Owing to the coronavirus lockdown in Karachi, the federal government has directed K-Electric and others power supply companies not to charge fuel adjustment charges from the consumers for next three months, but K-Electric, rejecting directives of the federal government, included fuel adjustment charges in electricity-bill for April 2020. Meanwhile the Sindh government has also proposed the K-Electric not to issue April bills to protect its masses.
According to the news, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Economy, Dr Hafeez-Shaikh led meeting also gave its nod to a supplementary grant of Rs 275 million for federal housing and works ministry along with an approval for increase in electricity tariff for K-Electric consumers in terms of fuel adjustment, but the notification for this increase will be issued after three months.
The draft law envisaged no payments of electricity bills for monthly consumption up to 260 units, followed by 25% bill payment for 261-350 units, 50% for 351-450 units and 100% bill recovery for over 450 units.
The K-Electric had issued bills on 20th April with fuel adjustment charges and asked its consumers, who used electricity below 300 units, to pay full bill or in installments would be acceptable.
Federal government was fully cognisant of the difficulties arising for the common consumers because of Covid-19 and had taken appropriate steps including instalments for all consumers of up to 300 units of electricity for three months and three monthly instalments for gas bills up to Rs 2000. There are also complaint received from different people that Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has also issued high average bills for April 2020.
President SITE Association of Industry, Suleman Chawla has complained in the Ministry of Power to restrain K-Electric from collecting Industrial Support Package Adjustment (ISPA) charges from the industrial consumers and immediately issue revise bills minus ISPA charges with one week extended, last date for payment for the current K-Electric bills is 30th April 2020.
Giving details Chawla stated that K-Electric is charging ISPA amount for the period July 2019 to December 2019. He added that industries have sold their products based on then applicable rates of electricity and collection of this amount is unjustified as this is past and closed transaction.
“It is worth to be noted that at this crucial time, industries are unable to pay their labors, factories are close, and many units are afraid of bankruptcy which will result in huge unemployment”, he pointed out.
Suleman Chawla demanded that Ministry of Energy must intervene and rescue the industries of Karachi and direct K-Electric to issue revised bills minus ISPA charges and extend due dates to give industrial community breathing space.
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