KARACHI: Pakistan’s largest electric supply company, K-Electric, while continuing its anti-consumer behavior has adopted go-slow policy in installing Time of Use (TOU) meters in a bid to evade tariff incentive to its customers. It is to be noted that under the TOU facility electricity consumption by consumers is bifurcated between the peak hours and off-peak hours. The peak hours are considered from 6 pm to 10 pm in Karachi. National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has been notifying peak and off-peak hour rates since 2006 for industrial customers and 2009 onwards for commercial and residential customers. The current rates notified for K-Electric for residential and commercial consumers are Rs 18 for Peak hours and Rs 12.50 per kWh for off-peak hours, while Industrial Peak hours’ tariff is Rs 18 and off-peak hours is Rs 12.29 down to Rs 12.00 per kWh (depending on the load). However, it has been observed that K-Electric is not following the TOU concept and is continuously charging peak hour tariff to the citizens of Karachi. “The review of information submitted by K-Electric regarding the installation of TOU meters reveals that K-Electric has achieved a total progress of less than 50 percent in installing the TOU meters which is not encouraging at all. The said low progressing is creating an unpleasant situation as consumers are continuously agitating the issue of non-installation of TOU meters at various public forums”, stated Nepra in a letter to the CEO of K-Electric. The authority added that the representative of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has raised this issue before the authority stating that industrial consumers are facing huge burden due to non-installation of TOU meters. Hence, Nepra has directed K-Electric to expedite the process of installing of balance TOU meters on an urgent basis and submit a clear/explicit timeline for completing the balance work on TOU meters. The authority had also directed K-Electric to start billing the consumers on TOU Tariff where such meters have already been installed. When asked, Director of Communication of K-Electric Sadia Dada said that K-Electric appreciates the TOU initiative and is committed to implement it across its network. “K-Electric is already offering TOU billing to industries whereas the subject TOU for residential and commercial customers is under discussion with the regulatory body and will be implemented as determined by Nepra,” she added. On the other hand, Nazim Haji, an industrialist, terming K-Electric’s statement incorrect said the power utility is providing TOU facility on demand. Nepra, acting on my complaint, has directed K-Electric to provide the TOU metering/billing facility both at my residence and my factory. “I would like to appeal to all customers under the K-Electric licensed region to demand TOU metering/billing facility, which is their right,” added Haji.