12 hours load-shedding in rural, eight hours in urban areas planned: National Assembly body told

Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has planned up to 12 hours load shedding in rural areas and eight hours in urban areas during the summer mainly due to the inter-circular debt and water shortage. On Monday, Ministry of Water and Power officially informed the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Water and Power that power shortfall would touch 3500 MW in summer.
However, according to power sector analysts the supply gap would touch 4000-4500 MW in June and July. Pepco has planned the following measure for energy conservation: (i) public awareness campaign through electronic and print media; (ii) campaign to keep AC thermostat on 26°; (iii) two holidays a week; (iv) closure of markets' and shops by 8.00 pm; (v) staggering of industrial holidays;(vi) interaction with industries for reduction of load during peak hours; (vii) reduction of lights up to 50 per cent in President and Prime Minister's secretariats and houses, Federal Ministers, Governors, Chief Ministers, all Provincial Ministers offices/residences and all government offices; (viii) replacement of bulbs/tube lights with energy savers (CFLs); (ix) use of air conditioners by authorised officers after 11 am; (x) switching off billboards and alternate street light points; (xi) ban on commercial decorative lights; (xii) replacement of inefficient irrigation/water supply motors and pumps with efficient equipment; (xiii) mandatory energy audit of industrial, commercial and public concerns; and (xiv) enforcement of energy building code, which is under preparation.
Advisor to the Ministry of Water and Power, Shahid Sattar, apprised the committee that Pepco would set its own Police Stations to punish those who steal power. To a question, he claimed that power sector was facing 20 per cent loss. This claim, however, is not verifiable by independent power experts.
He also informed the committee that the government was still subsidising electricity by Rs 1.71 per unit. The officials said that cement and textile sectors had been exempted from the load shedding while in Atta and Ghee mills, there would be four-hour load shedding and commercial markets would face five hour-load shedding during the summer season.
The committee was further told that there would be 10 hours load shedding to agriculture tube wells and it was expected the average shortfall would be about 3500 megawatts. The panel was further told that currently 850 MW Rental Power Projects (RPPs) were underway while rest of the projects had been shelved and the advance amount had been taken back from the companies.
Managing Director Pepco informed the committee that currently the government was giving Rs 1.71 subsidy on each power unit to the consumers. He further said that the circular debt had reached to Rs 150 billion and the outstanding amount against the provinces was Rs 87 billion and Rs 119 billion against the private sector.
The committee was further informed that cases of Rs 5.80 billion electricity thefts were registered in the last six months, while collection of Rs 1.10 billion was made during the said period. The Pepco officials said that police were not taking action on the cases registered against the electricity thieves. They complained that the police were either reluctant to lodge FIRs against the electricity thieves or they acted on very few cases registered with various police stations in the country.
Officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources informed the committee that the required oil and gas for Pepco was not available with the ministry. They further said that the gas exploration in Kohlu and Dera Bugti of Balochistan and Kohat and Hangu of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was suspended due to security situation and the concerned provinces were not ready to give clearance for the purpose.
The committee, however, summoned Interior Minister and Secretary Petroleum and Natural Resources in its next meeting to brief the committee on the security situation of the gas exploration sites. The committee members during proceedings suggested that there should be ban on the issuance of licenses for CNG stations and stated that LPG should be used in the vehicles so that gas supply could be ensured to the industries. The members also expressed reservations on 10 hours load shedding to agricultural tube wells and asked the Peco to reduce the duration of load shedding to the agri tube wells.
The parliamentarians directed that Managing Director SNGPL be invited to brief them on gas supply to Pepco. The committee considered and passed the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) Bill 2010 with minor amendments. This Bill, however, would be placed before the Council of Common Interest (CCI) prior submitting in the House. The meeting was presided over by Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah and participated by MNAs Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Abid Sher Ali, Syed Salahuddin, Anjum Aqeel, Sardar Israr Tareen, Bilal Yaseen, Nawaz Allai, Rana Afzaal Hussain and Aftab Ahmad Sherpao.