- More than 278,000 consumers hit with RS47.81bn inflated invoices in a month.
- Overbilling used to hide losses, no measures are taken against officials.
- Official auditors indicate missing records, demand explanations.
An official audit has exposed massive overvaluation and financial fraud by eight energy distribution companies, which exhausts hundreds of billions of unsuspecting consumers already crushed by inflation and low income and high rates.
According to the general auditor of the latest Pakistan report, these companies surpassed consumers at RS244 billion, supposedly to hide inefficiencies, line losses and electricity theft.
The audit appoints Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Lahore (Lesco), Hyderabad (Hesco), fine (MEPCO), Peshawar (Pesco), Quetta (Qesco), Sukkur (Sepco) and the Electric Supply Company of Tribal Areas (Tesco) among those involved.
According to reports, five of the companies exceeded 278,649 consumers for RS47.81 billion in a single month, according to the report.
More than 900 million additional clients were billed during financial year 2023–24, without measures against responsible officials, reveals the audit.
In some cases, companies claimed to have reimbursed billions of rupees, but the audit authorities said no evidence was provided and records for verification were required.
A separate finding shows that an additional turnover of RS22 billion was carried out in the name of “load adjustment” to cover the technical losses.
The report stands out as the worst offender, with RS148 billion in overload to agricultural consumers. Alleges that qesco inflated the tube well inflated invoices to mask the low performance.
Meanwhile, 1,432 feeders among companies were used to send invoices inflated by a total of 18.64 billion rupees. Despite the repeated requests, the relevant records were not shared with the audit equipment.
Some consumers received reimbursements, including RS5.29 billion for incorrect meters readings, and RS2.18 billion in fishing credit adjustments.
Audit officials have sought explanations of the eight companies.
