LESCO Ends Free Electricity Units for Grade 18–20 Officers, Regular Power Bills Issued

The LESCO free electricity units facility for Grade 18 to 20 officers has officially been abolished, with affected employees now receiving regular electricity bills like other consumers.

Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has pulled the earlier privilege of free electricity units for its officers belonging to Grade 18, 19 and 20. Consequently, these officers have now began to receive electricity bills just like the other people.

This is the first time in nearly three decades that LESCO officers have been denied the free electricity privilege, with some claiming that electricity costs are now taking up a substantial amount of their monthly earnings.

The old policy was for 6,000 electricity units free of charge for officers who were from Grade 18 and 8,000 units free of charge for officers from Grade 19 per year. Grade 20 officers received 10,000 units of free electricity each year.

According to the officials, the withdrawal of the free electricity facility was planned for Grade 18 to 20 officers of all electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan. But several other DISCOs reportedly secured court stay orders, by which their officers could continue receiving free electricity units.

LESCO officers have argued that benefits from free electricity to other distribution companies are unfair and legally dubious. They have suggested that employee salaries are enough to cover all allowances and benefits, and that this is why they do not require free electricity.

The officers also urged the Ministry of Energy to come up with a uniform policy for all power distribution companies so that the facility of free electricity could either be scrapped or be made available to all government owned DISCOs.

Why This Decision Matters

The abolition of the LESCO free electricity units facility is being viewed as a major step toward reducing government perks and promoting equal treatment of electricity consumers. The move could also pave the way for similar reforms in other power distribution companies if a nationwide policy is introduced.