Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) faces allegations of illegally disconnecting power to consumers who miss a single month's bill, a practice that directly contradicts the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (Nepra) Consumer Service Manual-2025. An insider within the utility disclosed the violation to Dawn, prompting questions about regulatory oversight and consumer rights. Main Developments Lesco field teams have been cutting power to households and businesses as soon as the due date for a single month's payment passes, according to an insider who spoke with Dawn on Saturday. This approach is not followed by any other distribution company (Disco) in the country, the source said, calling it harassment under the guise of recovery. Under Nepra's manual, a seven-day notice is mandatory before disconnection, and power can only be severed after the second consecutive month's bill remains unpaid. The insider urged Nepra to take action against Lesco for what he termed an illegal practice. Read also: Waqar Zaka Discharged as Cybercrime Agency Drops Crypto Case The issue gained traction after the Lahore commissioner's office received a complaint about Lesco officials harassing consumers. Media coverage also highlighted the problem in recent days, prompting calls for enforcement of the consumer protection rules. Background Nepra revised the Consumer Service Manual approximately eight months ago, setting clear rules for disconnections. According to section 8.2.1, a consumer must pay the bill by the due date or face a late payment surcharge, but the connection cannot be cut for a single month's default if no other dues exist. The manual states: “No connection must be disconnected on non-payment of the previous month's bill. The Disco shall issue a notice of seven days along with the second month bill to the defaulting consumer to either clear the outstanding dues with the second month bill or face disconnection.” This notice may be printed or stamped on the bill itself. In a July 11 conversation with Dawn, Lesco CEO Ramzan Butt defended the practice, stating that consumers who fail to pay a single month's bill are considered defaulters. He acknowledged that previously, disconnections only occurred after two months of non-payment, but said the policy had changed. Butt dismissed allegations of harassment, claiming no significant complaints existed. When contacted again on Saturday for comment on the manual, Butt was unavailable. However, a Lesco spokesperson said in a message: “The Lesco strictly follows Nepra regulations. Our teams simply inform consumers that bills must be cleared to avoid any disruption in service.” She added: “We kindly request consumers to pay your bill timely to ensure continuous power supply.” Why It Matters This dispute affects millions of Lesco consumers across Lahore and surrounding areas who risk losing electricity over a single missed payment, contrary to the protections Nepra intended. If left unchecked, the practice could set a precedent for other Discos to bypass consumer safeguards, undermining the regulator's authority. For households and small businesses, an unexpected disconnection can disrupt daily life, damage perishable goods, and impose financial strain through reconnection fees and late payment surcharges. The manual explicitly prohibits such actions, yet Lesco's field teams continue the practice. What's Next Nepra has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, but the insider called for immediate regulatory action against Lesco. The Lahore commissioner's office may escalate the complaint, potentially leading to a formal inquiry or directive to halt the unlawful disconnections. Lesco's CEO has not addressed the specific contradiction between the utility's stated policy and Nepra's manual, leaving the matter unresolved. Consumers affected by arbitrary disconnections may seek redress through Nepra's complaint mechanisms or the courts.