ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Water and Power on Tuesday issued a load management plan for summer, aimed at providing electricity to consumers with a countrywide schedule of six hours in urban areas, eight hours in rural areas and zero load-shedding in industrial sector except during peak summer months in which industrial load management may be introduced.
In areas where the recoveries are up to mark and losses are within permissible limit, the load-shedding hours will remain predictable and within the above announced schedule.
However in areas where losses are greater and recoveries are lower, the Ministry has chalked out a special load management plan.
A percentage wise schedule for each and every electricity 11 kv feeders has been issued across the country based on recoveries and losses, whereby high loss/theft areas will be subjected to higher than the announced load-shedding.
According to the Ministry, this strategy has been devised keeping in view principle of equality in terms of recoveries and losses. Responsible consumers should have lesser number of load-shedding hours as compared to non-payers or those involved in power theft.
The Ministry has directed all Distribution Companies to prominently display each and every feeder losses and recoveries status at their circle's offices, sub division level offices, complaint centers and other prominent places within each and every city for public awareness along with load-shedding hours.
It will now become possible for the consumers of a particular feeder to adjust their load-shedding hours by paying their bills and assist their distribution companies to act against power theft.
The Ministry has already introduced new amendments in anti-power theft law whereby arrest without warrant is possible besides other stringent penalties against those involved in power theft.
The Federal Complaint Cell (No.051-9206834, 051-9204430, 051- 9103888) is also working round the clock (24/7) to address the complaints of consumers and also work against power theft.
The overall situation of electricity availability is improving with each passing month due to untiring efforts made on all fronts including system improvements, better management, transparency and addition of new power generation.
As compared to 60% use of power capacity availability in 2013, the expected generation during this Summer is estimated as 85% of the generation capacity.
The load-shedding hours on average has witnessed a 50% decline as compared to year 2013 and will continue to such decline after peak summer months.
The Ministry has appealed to consumers to adopt energy conservation during their daily routine which can lead to saving of around 1500 MW of electricity. This can substantially reduce load-shedding hours. The government is also planning to aggressively promote energy conservation through media campaigns.
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