The committee will look into the issue of excessive billing in view of increased price slab recently introduced by the government and find out the reasons and justification of the excessive domestic gas bills. The committee will also look at the new slabs and suggest any rationalization in view of the unprecedented increase in domestic gas bills. The committee must also look into the billing mechanism including observation of 30 days billing period, timely reading of the meter and timely distribution of bills to the consumers, in addition to other aspects of the billing system and procedure, and suggest improvements.
Sources alleged that SNGPL is illegally applying pressure factor on gas bills which is resulting in up to 30 percent inflated bills.
The Ogra had written a letter to the SNGPL wherein the company was advised to take corrective measures to ensure application of correct pressure factor in the domestic consumer''s gas bills. The authority vide its decision on FRR 2017-18 also directed SNGPL to re-examine the application of correct pressure factor in the domestic consumers'' gas bills and make any adjustment on this account to endure the compliance with the standard supply contract with the consumers. Standard supply contract says: "Natural gas shall be supplied at a pressure not exceeding 8 inches of water column above atmospheric pressure. The volume of gas shall be recorded in cubic feet or cubic meters on the meter, which shall be converted to energy units i.e. mmbtu based on the average btu per cubic foot (at absolute pressure of 14.65 pounds per square inch and a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded on the calorimeters and gas chromatographs for the particular city/town, village or locality where the consumer is located."
The authority noted that application of higher pressure factor by the gas company is resulting in higher gas bills as it may put the consumer to the next higher billing slab. In view of the position, SNGPL is also advised to provide the data of additional gas volume booked by it from the domestic gas consumers (by application of pressure factor over and above 8 inches of water column i.e. 1.0197) during July to December 2018 on urgent basis.