Web Desk: Millions of electricity consumers are losing critical time by sending complaints about power outages, inflated bills, and faulty transformers to the Water and Power Development Authority, an agency that completely surrendered its role in electricity distribution nearly two decades ago.
Officials state that a massive public misunderstanding continues to delay the resolution of urgent utility issues. Consumers frequently flood the agency with messages regarding solar net metering processes, broken meters, and distribution lines, despite the organization having no legal authority over these matters.
The confusion stems from a historic restructuring process. The federal government initiated the unbundling of the mega-utility in 1997 and officially completed the transition in 2007. This structural shift converted all former area electricity boards into independent distribution companies, known today as DISCOs.
Following that reorganization, the state placed these DISCOs along with the National Transmission and Despatch Company now operating as the National Grid Company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Energy’s Power Division.
Simultaneously, the government shifted the authority itself to the Ministry of Water Resources. Since 2007 the organization has held a strictly defined mandate focused on the strategic management of water resources, the construction of dams and reservoirs, hydropower stations, canals, and mega water supply schemes.
While the entity still generates bulk electricity through its various hydropower plants, it sells this power directly to the National Grid Company. After that bulk transfer the department exercises zero control over the national grid, cost recovery, billing or infrastructure maintenance.
Consequently, consumers who experience technical faults or billing discrepancies waste valuable time by waiting for a response from the wrong agency.
Industry experts urge the public to bypass the water authority entirely and instead contact their localized distribution companies or the Ministry of Energy to ensure their urgent complaints receive immediate attention.
Read more: Water supply cut in three Karachi districts for next two days
