HESCO is discharging the important duty of public utility like distribution of electricity. To meet the requirement of consumers, HESCO purchases the electricity from I.P.Ps and further distribute at consumer's doorstep.
The consumers are the patriotic citizens of this Country and they are responsible to safeguard the National interest through helping HESCO in curbing the theft of electricity, but some percentage of consumers does not feel the responsibility of this national task and indulged themselves in theft of electricity due to which HESCO sustains heavy loss and arranges checkings. As a result of checking, detections are charged to consumers who found involved in theft of electricity or meters of those become slow / faulty automatically.
The policy of HESCO is very lenient towards Domestic consumers having load upto 04.00 KW and devised the following policy of detection for domestic consumers upto 4.00 KW to made transparent the system of charging the detection bills.
A- Hole in meter body is detected.
B-Consumer is found stealing energy through shunt/loops on the terminal box.
C- If meter is slow or tempered.
D- In case the quantum of stolen energy is below 1000 units, registering of FIR is avoided.
E- Detection bill for domestic and commercial connections is confined upto three months only for premises having no A.C and 6 months for A.C premises. In cases, where liveable/justified detection exceed 03 months, bill be prepared for the total period.
F- Consumer detected stealing energy through direct Kundas on L.T lines or tapping main cable before the meter are to be dealt severely by lodging FIR and removal of the meter through "FARD MAQBOOZGEE" in addition to detection billing upto 06 months.
G- A consumer whose meter is found slow by more than + 2% of the specified accuracy, by M&T staff. The bill for slowness will be raised on a report signed by the concerned Circle Manager M&T for the period to be determined from the previous consumption pattern by not exceeding 06 months.
H- In case, the consumer represents against the detection bill, he will be given personal hearing by the Circle Review Committee.
I- S.E should ensure to hold proceedings of review Committee at least every 10 days and should publically announced his decision.
-While preparing detection bill the provisions of S-26-A S-39-A and S-48 of the Electricity Act, 1910 as amended shall be complied with strictly.
- Detection bill for dishonest abstraction or consumption of energy will be assessed strictly in accordance with the provisions of section 26-A of the Electricity Act 1910 detection bill will be prepared on prescribed Performa.
Whoever is found to have connected his installations appliances and apparatus with the works of licensee for the purpose of supply of energy without its written consent commits an offence to be prosecuted under Section 39 & 39-A of Electricity Act-1910 which requires an FIR to be lodged with Police further to compensate the loss sustained on account of theft of electricity in pursuance of provisions of section 48. A detection / assessment bill is to be served as per laid down procedure to such illegal and unregistered consumer. For assessment of the amount of energy deemed to have been dishonestly abstracted consumed or used for the period direct electric connection from the aerial line / supply line through artificial means, the provisions of Section 26-A will be followed strictly. The owner or occupier of the premises which are found for the time being connected illegally for the purpose of supply of energy with the works of the licensee are liable for payment of detection / assessment bill prepared and served to compensate the loss sustained on account of theft of electricity.
Since utmost care is to be exercised in the preparation of detection / assessment bill in the first instance there should normally be no occasion to revise it. However if necessity is felt to revise a detection bill on the representation of the consumer then the revision of the detection bill be approved by Circle Review Committee in Superintending Engineer office.
Neither Electricity Act-1910 nor the regulations of generation transmission and distribution of electric power Act (XL of 1997) empower Electric Inspectors of Provincial Governments to assume jurisdiction to entertain complaints and determination / adjudication upon the detection / assessment bills served for theft or energy under Section 26-A of the electricity Act-1910.
Amount of the detection bill will not be excluded from the current monthly bills except where its recovery is suspended by a competent authority as defined under clause-C of Section-XII of the WAPDA Book of Financial Powers or by a Court / Forum of competent jurisdiction.
In case of default in payment of a detection bill the existing procedures laid down for recovery of arrears including disconnection on account of default in payment will be followed.