LESCO withdraws free electricity facility for officers

LAHORE: The facility of free electricity units for officers of Grade 18 to 20 of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has been ended, after which they have also started receiving regular electricity bills like other consumers.

This move is being described as an important link in the series of reviewing the system of incentives in the electricity sector.

It should be noted that for the first time in the last 30 years, LESCO officers have been deprived of the facility of free units, due to which a large part of the salary of some officers has started being spent on paying electricity bills.

According to LESCO sources, earlier Grade 18 officers were provided with 6,000 free electricity units annually, Grade 19 officers with 8,000, and Grade 20 officers with 10,000. Under the new policy, this facility has been completely abolished.

Sources say that a similar decision was also taken for officers in grades 18 to 20 of other electricity distribution companies (DSCOs) of the country, however, some companies obtained a restraining order from the courts and temporarily restored the free electricity facility.

On the other hand, LESCO officers are of the view that if all the benefits are included in the salaries, then the free electricity facility should not be maintained in any institution. They demand that the Ministry of Energy implement a uniform policy for all distribution companies across the country so that the same principle is applicable to all officers and institutions.

This decision is being termed as a major step towards transparency and uniformity in the system of benefits in the electricity sector.