Islamabad: The government is planning to revise the existing gas usage slabs in order to provide relief to domestic consumers, a news source quoted an official. The government may also consider a separate tariff for the winter season as another option. If implemented, this tariff will remain in effect for a period of three months.
The government had already made changes to gas usage slabs for generating revenue for the Sui Northern Gas Corporation (SSGC) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL). As a result, the two utilities collected PKR 95 billion. But it needs another PKR 55 billion to meet annual revenue target and curb losses.
The changes to the gas usage slab also increased the gas bills for the domestic consumers. The official told that the government did not raise per unit price of gas. Instead, it chose to increase prices by over 100% for consumers falling within each next category.
The government is now considering to introduce the separate tariff or revise the slabs again to provide relief to the consumers. In another step to resolve the issue of increased bills, it has formed an inquiry committee.
This committee will investigate the complaints against the increased gas bills for December 2018. It will unearth reasons for increased bills, co-relation of the pressure factor, temperature factor, date of meter reading, and gas value consumed. The committee will also be responsible for random authentication of meter reason and sticky meter charges.
