ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The much-anticipated relief in electricity bills announced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is only limited to single-phase meter users, leaving three-phase meter consumers disappointed.
According to sources within the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), the relief of Rs14 per unit, initially announced for both single and three-phase meter consumers, is now only applicable to those with single-phase meters.
This has led to widespread dissatisfaction among three-phase meter users, who were expecting the same reduction in their bills.
The sources said that the Punjab chief minister had earlier promised relief across the board, but directives from the ministry specified that the Rs14 per unit concession would be confined to single-phase meter consumers. As a result, no relief has been reflected in the electricity bills of three-phase meter users for the current billing cycle.
LESCO offices have reportedly been swarmed with a large number of consumers seeking clarification and assistance regarding the relief, as many are frustrated by the exclusion of three-phase meter users from the benefit.
Last week, the relief in electricity bills, which was also announced for the residents of Islamabad, was withdrawn, leaving them without the promised Rs14 per unit discount in their September bills. The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) officially communicated this decision through a letter issued on the orders of its CEO.
While consumers in Islamabad will not benefit from the relief, customers in other cities of Punjab, including those within the Rawalpindi circles, will still enjoy the Rs14 per unit discount.
The IESCO also issued directives to modify the billing software accordingly to reflect the changes for residents of Islamabad.