I RECEIVED on Jan 17 a letter dated Dec 24, 2011 on the subject mentioned above. I am shocked that according to the KESC’s assessment, the overall load consumption of my bungalow is irregular and below the optimum threshold. Here, I wish to state that the KESC has failed to specify the optimum threshold. My bungalow is two-storied, each of which has three bedrooms. I live on the ground floor with my family and the first floor is occupied by my brother’s family which consists of four members. The consumption during winter falls down as no air-conditioner runs during this season.

My portion of the bungalow remains closed during the day from 8am to 4pm as we go for work. In summer, we use one A/C during the night for about six hours. My brother goes to work, and his children are at school for a good number of hours, as such their electricity consumption is also low.

Currently, we have two three-phase meters and one single-phased one for the water pump. To get a meter disconnected (the single-phase), the load would shift to either of the remaining two, which will mean rise in the slabs, thereby causing financial hardships in these times of price hike and inflation.

According to the law of justice, ‘policies’ detrimental to the consumer cannot be mandatory, as these will cause increase in expenses.

I wish to state that we have been living in this house for the past 21 years. To take away a meter now will be highly unfair to us.

In these hard times, it is suggested that the Kesc find other venues for generating extra income like doing away with the kunda mafia rather than coming out with innovative methods of taxing the already-burdened consumers.

I will be extremely grateful if this policy is withdrawn immediately.

FARZANA KHALID     Karachi