LESCO to start net metering connections from next month: CEO

Lahore: Chief Executive Officer of Lahore Electric Supply Company Chaudhry Muhammad Amin has said that net metering connections will be started from the next month.

He was speaking at a meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry. LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan and Vice President Haris Ateeq also spoke on the occasion while Executive Committee Members Ahmad Elahi, Riaz ul Hassan, Shehzad Butt, former Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rashid, former Vice Presidents Mian Abuzar Shad and Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi were also present in the meeting.

The LESCO CEO said that three hundred net meters have reached while the LESCO has provided highest net metering connections in all discos. He said that the first priority of the LESCO is the industrialists. He said that cable and telephone wires are the main reason of congestion of wires, adding that the problem is more prevalent in the populated areas. He said that LESCO is taking all possible steps to address the problem.

There is no unannounced load shedding anywhere in Lahore. He said that LESCO is the only DISCO in which no grid of 66 KV. All the grid stations have been transferred to 132 KV to address the problem of voltage fluctuation. He said that the mechanism is available to rectify the issue of overbilling. He urged the Lahore Chamber to appoint focal persons for resolving issues at the grassroots level.

LCCI Senior Vice President Mian Rehman Aziz Chan said that in various markets of Lahore, there are issues of open hanging cluster of wires which pose a great danger of short circuiting and threat to the safety of general public. The Market representatives have over the time, frequently brought our attention towards this issue. We would request you to please get this matter resolved on priority basis.

He said that despite the fact that the pictures of electricity meters are printed on the bills, the problem of overbilling is still persisting. More than actual units are often wrongly entered in the system that generates the excessive bills accordingly. He said that over-billing adds to their cost of production besides causing great inconvenience. A concrete strategy needs to be adopted for resolve this issue for once and all.

Mian Rehman Aziz Chan said that unscheduled load shedding is another concern of business community which halts the process of production that results in waste of time and resources. This matter should also be resolved.

He said that the businesses are also facing the issue of voltage fluctuation especially during summer season. This causes serious damages to the electronic machinery and appliances both at industrial and residential places. LESCO should find long-term solution of this issue.

He said that the distribution of electricity bills should also be improved making sure that bills are delivered at least one week prior to the last date of payment. Likewise, the rate of late payment surcharge which amounts to 8 percent is too high. This rate also needs to be rationalized.

The LCCI Senior Vice President said that there is a dire need of improving the efficiency of LESCO Complaint offices. It has often been observed that Executive Engineers and SDOs are not present in the offices to facilitate the consumers. He said that the complaint management system of LESCO should be streamlined for the mutual benefit of LESCO and its customers.

He further stated that according to the NEPRA State of the Industry Report, the transmission and distribution losses of LESCO are 12%. Although this figure is better as compared to other DISCOs in Pakistan, but these losses are still quite high. We would like to know what steps have been taken by LESCO to upgrade its transmission and distribution infrastructure.

LCCI Vice President Haris Ateeq said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry has taken a distinctive step  establishing Smart Services for the maximum facilitation of our members. Presently, there are number of help desks operating in Lahore Chamber under one-roof which are providing one-stop solutions to our members. LESCO’s help desk is one of them.

He said that to increase the efficiency of LESCO’s help desk, a senior LESCO official should be deputed on this help desk for the effective resolution of LESCO related issues.

“We need to change the mindset of LESCO support staff”, he said and added that from Chief Engineers to meter readers, all the staff members should practice professionalism with full responsibility and customer care attitude.