LESCO Consumers Report Excessively High Electricity Bills Due to Faulty Meters

Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) consumers across multiple districts have reported unusually high LESCO bills, following a prolonged shortage of functional electricity meters. The issue has drawn regulatory attention and raised serious concerns about billing accuracy and consumer protection.

According to official records submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), LESCO currently has more than 102,000 defective or burnt single-phase meters and approximately 2,400 faulty three-phase meters awaiting replacement. The shortage has reportedly continued for over six months, affecting both residential and commercial consumers.

NEPRA Seeks Explanation from LESCO Management

NEPRA has formally taken notice of the situation and issued a notice to LESCO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Ramzan Butt, seeking clarification on the prolonged delay in meter replacement.

In its communication, the regulator stated that LESCO has failed to maintain the mandatory stock of electricity meters, which is required under regulatory rules for:

  • New electricity connections
  • Replacement of defective or burnt meters

NEPRA emphasized that timely meter replacement is not optional but a legal obligation under Pakistan’s power sector regulations.

Estimated Billing Causing Financial Strain

Due to the unavailability of replacement meters, many affected consumers have been issued estimated or average electricity bills under defective meter codes. These bills are often significantly higher than actual consumption, leading to widespread complaints.

Consumers report that:

  • Bills do not reflect real usage
  • Disputes are difficult to resolve without a working meter
  • Payment pressure continues despite documented meter faults

In several cases, consumers allege that false electricity theft cases were registered after meters malfunctioned, further escalating tensions between customers and field staff.

Delayed Meter Installation Despite Demand Payments

Sources familiar with the matter state that thousands of consumers deposited millions of rupees in demand notices for new meters or replacements during the past six months. Despite payments being made, meter installation has not taken place in many cases.

As a result:

  • Consumers are forced to make repeated visits to LESCO offices
  • Billing disputes have increased
  • Friction between staff and customers has become frequent

LESCO operations officers have attributed the crisis to delays in finalizing meter procurement tenders, citing administrative bottlenecks under the current management structure.

Regulatory and Consumer Implications

The ongoing shortage highlights broader issues within electricity distribution governance, including:

  • Procurement inefficiencies
  • Weak inventory planning
  • Increased reliance on estimated billing

NEPRA’s intervention signals potential regulatory action if compliance failures persist. Consumers, meanwhile, continue to demand transparent billing, timely meter replacement, and relief from inflated charges.

LESCO officials were unavailable for comment at the time of reporting.