LAHORE: Consumers whose electricity meters go faulty and they are provided with direct power supply with the permission of the sub-divisional officer (SDO) concerned cannot be treated as electricity thieves or subjected to penalties, rules the federal ombudsman.

The order, issued by Rashid Qamar, adviser to the Wafaqi Mohtasib, Regional Office, Multan, further directed that such consumers should only be billed according to the amount charged for the corresponding month of the previous year.

The adviser issued the ruling while deciding a complaint filed by Muhammad Ashfaq, a resident of Kabirwala, Khanewal, who said the electricity meter installed at his house had burnt out.

According to the complainant, he immediately informed the SDO concerned who obtained an affidavit from him and restored direct electricity supply to his house.

He said he had been regularly paying the bills for the electricity consumed after the direct supply was restored.

However, on June 20, 2026, he was issued a penalty bill of Rs24,172 and allegedly threatened with registration of an electricity theft case by the relevant authorities. The adviser summoned the SDO and sought an explanation regarding the matter.

During the proceedings, the SDO admitted that direct electricity supply to the complainant’s house had been restored on his instructions.

In view of the admission, Mr Qamar ruled that the consumer could neither be charged a penalty nor treated as an electricity thief.

The SDO assured the adviser that no penalty would be recovered from the consumer and that no electricity theft case would be registered against him.

In another complaint, the adviser directed the authorities to ensure provision of basic facilities to consumers at all National Savings Centres.

The directions came on a complaint filed by Muhammad Idrees, a resident of Vehari, who said he had visited the National Savings Centre in Vehari along with his elderly mother.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2026