ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory (NEPRA) has censured Pakistan Information Technology Company (PITC), an arm of Power Division for flouting Prime Minister’s directions on provision of data of overbilling and violation of MDI by the industry.

In a letter to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PITC, Director Registrar Office, Masroor Khan has cited reference of a letter of August 26, 2024, a notice of investigation in the matter titled ” investigation on account of overbilling for all consumer categories and MDI manipulation by industrial sector for the period from Jan to June 2024″  was served inter-alia to PITC. Further PITC , through a letter of August 27, 2024 was directed to provide requisite data within five days as per list of data requirements.

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In this regard a meeting was also held at the office of PITC Lahore on September 07,2024 regarding this  matter wherein all the queries raised by PITC were clarified by the Investigation Committee and it was categorically required to provide the data at the earliest.

In continuation to correspondence, a reminder was also issued to PITC on September 16. 2024 to provide the required details without any further delay enabling the Investigation Committee to complete the investigation within the allowed time period. However, despite repeated telephonic calls PITC has only provided a small volume of data and most of the data is still awaited despite lapse of more than twenty  days.

According to Director Registrar Office, the Authority has ordered investigations on overbilling based on the letter from Power Division stating that the Prime Minister has issued directions to initiate an inquiry into the issue of overbilling by Discos and manipulation of MDI by industrial sector. Therefore, non-provision of data by PITC due to reasons known to PITC is hampering the investigation process and as such PITC is pima facie not only violating the directions of the Prime Minister’s Office but also in violation of Section 27 A(4) of the NEPRA Act which is as follows”  A person who obstructs or hinders an investigating officer while exercising any of the powers under this section or deliberately fails to produce any such books, registers or documents as are required by the Authority or an investigating officer, shall be liable to ;(a) proceedings under section 27B and 28, where the  Authority is of the view that  noncompliance with the investigation would adversely affect the interest of the consumers of the  person under investigation and where the person under investigation is a licencee or u registered person; and (b) imposition of penalty under section 27 B, in all other cases.

Foregoing in view,  NEPRA has given final opportunity to PITC to provide relevant record or face the action.