AS a long-time observer of K-Electric (KE), I was not surprised when it recently resorted to a new tactic to overcharge consumers in the so-called `high-loss zones`.

This time KE has issued fraudulent supplementary bills on a mass scale, falsely alleging electricity theft under Chapter 9 of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Act. Mass-issuing suchbills on the pretext ofelectricity theftisnothingshort ofcorporate extortion. Households with basic appliances have been slapped with bills ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs200,000.

These bills allege a load of 4kV to 6kV over six months, a claim that is both absurd and unjustifiable.

To add insult to injury, KE`s customer facilitation centres (CFCs) refuse to correct these bills. They register complaints andarrange for an `inspection` of the premises where the KE personnel find no evidence to support their allegations.

Yet, even after confirming no theft has occurred, the CFCs brazenly refuse to withdraw the supplementary bill.

Instead, the KE offers consumers the option of instalments with a 50 per cent rebate, which is nothing, but a form of coercion and extortion.

Moreover, the supplementary bill amount is arbitrarily divided into instalments, and added to future bills, forcing the affected consumers to visit a CFC every month just to get their current bill issued without the instalment amount.

This means routinely skipping work and enduringendless hassle.Is there no one in the government to put an end to this harassment and blackmail? Determining whether or not theft has occurred should be a simple process.

There should be inspection for evidence of theft, such as hooks or meter tampering, etc., as enlisted under the relevant regulations. If no evidence is found, the household`s appliances should be listed, their realistic power usage over 24 hours shouldbe calculated, accountingfor power outages that in some areas last up to 12 hours, and the outcome should be compared with the meter`s recorded consumption. If the numbers match, there is no theft. Why is this simple verification process not being enforced?The real motive behind these bills issued on a mass level is clear. KE seeks to inflate its `unrecoverable dues account` to demand more subsidies from the government, and to secure additional write-offs. This is corporate blackmail at its worst.

It is time the Nepra intervened and stopped this rather predatory practice.

Nepra needs to ensure consumer protection by holding KE accountable for its unethical as well as illegal actions.

Ahmad Fakir Muhammad Karachi