Consumers can pay electricity bills with three-month delay, says Hafeez Shaikh

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, said Thursday citizens can now pay their electricity bills with a three-month delay.

The announcement was made as part of the government's relief measures for the public during the coronavirus crisis as many brave a financial crunch due to the pandemic.

Shaikh said that the government will bear the losses in the delay of the bill payments and that Rs100 billion were allocated in this regard.

K-Electric announces additional relief measures 

On Wednesday, the metropolis' sole power supplier, K-Electric, had announced additional relief measures for the consumers amid the coronavirus crisis that has infected more than 700 people in the Sindh province and "is particularly tough for economically vulnerable segments of society".

Read more: PM Imran sets up coronavirus relief fund, urges Pakistanis to donate

In a statement, the KE said it would now "facilitate customers by using the consumption value of either the previous 11 months’ average or the corresponding month last year whichever is 'Lower'" — changing it from the 'Higher' figure that is mandated in the consumer service manual (CSM).

The physical meter-reading method, it added, had earlier been suspended, which was why bills were being calculated based on the average number of units consumed. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had been informed of the latest development, it said.

"The step is in continuation of its earlier efforts to provide relief via due date extension for bills below PKR 4,000," the KE noted.