Ogra appoints third-party inspector to conduct gas meters’ testing

ISLAMABAD – The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has appointed independent third-party inspector to conduct the meter testing of industrial and commercial gas consumers. “It is circulated for information of industrial and commercial consumers of natural gas/ RLNG that the Authority,  in pursuance of clause 8.2 of Natural Gas Measurement (Technical Standards) Regulations, 2019 has authorised M/s Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP) on its behalf for witnessing inspection of gas meters which may include but not limited to the verification of accuracy of gas meters and field calibration of measuring devices to check compliance of the standards specified by the Authority in the regulations, spokesman Ogra said here Tuesday. In this regards, after payment of meter testing charges prescribed by the Authority i.e., Rs. 10,000/- for industrial consumer which are refundable if meter is found defective (over 2 per cent), and Rs. 5,000/- for commercial consumer which are also refundable if meter is found defective (over 2 per cent), to the respective gas utility, industrial and commercial consumers of Natural gas/ RLNG can request for meter testing/ calibration in presence of Ogra appointed third-party inspector, the spokesman elaborated. The Oil and  Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) has decided to have testing of gas meters by independent third party, instead of gas companies themselves as industrial and commercial consumers had been demanding independent testing of gas meters instead of existing practice of testing by the gas companies themselves. As per the gas consumers the testing by Sui companies themselves was conflict of interest. The unfair and unreasonable practice by the gas utilities companies continued for decades and had been repeatedly objected by the industrial and commercial consumers. SSGC and SNGPL have themselves been calibrating, installing, de-installing and testing consumer gas meters at their own testing workshops and instituting claims against the consumers on the basis of their own judgment. Both SSGC and SNGPL were acting prosecutor as well as judge at the same time while dealing gas meter related issues and the industrial and commercial gas consumers had serious objection over the practice and were asking for the appointment of independent third-party inspectors. The appointment of third-party inspector will ensure fair dispensation of justice. The decision will improve the trust element and will reduce the cost of doing business. Currently hundreds of litigations are in courts across the country where industrial and commercial gas consumers have challenged unjustified bills/unfair treatment by the Sui companies. The decision will help reducing the occurrence of such litigations in future. 

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/28-Apr-2021/ogra-appoints-third-party-inspector-to-conduct-gas-meters-testing