When contacted, a SSGC official, on a condition of anonymity, confirmed that SSGC is charging GSD from its consumers on a monthly basis. He sought to dispel the impression in relation to imposition of new levy on its consumers, saying that SSGC had been charging GSD from its consumers before the establishment of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) in 2002.
He explained that the authority had granted permission to the company for charging GSD from its consumers through a notification. He said that the company through a notification had again been empowered to hold security deposit equivalent to average three-month bill. Moreover, he said that company was charging an additional Rs 500 under the head of GSD from its consumers on their monthly bills and it would be continued till the collection of whole computed GSD. Replying to a question, he said that SSGC had properly advertised before charging GSD and added that no consumer had been excluded from GSD but the company in order to avoid inconvenience charging GSD in phases from August, 2013. Answering another question, he said that presently there was no refund policy in case of collecting excess amount from consumers under the head of GSD, but the issue was under consideration.