Govt announces 2.25-hour loadshedding to ‘avert electricity price hike’

The federal government has announced a 2.25-hour daily suspension of power supply during peak hours, framed as a “peak relief strategy” intended to shield consumers from a significant surge in electricity tariffs.

The Power Division stated that a strategy has been designed to shield electricity consumers from the impact of surging global fuel prices, claiming to have already delivered a total relief of Rs46 billion.

The Power Division spokesperson stated that despite rising international fuel costs, consistent systemic reforms and strict adherence to the merit order resulted in an average price reduction of 71 paisas per unit between July and February. This was achieved by prioritising low-cost energy sources and curbing administrative and transmission losses through modernised grid management.

Addressing the current challenges, the spokesperson noted that the national grid faces a significant spike in demand during peak hours, specifically from 5:00pm to 1:00am. This pressure is compounded by a seasonal decline in hydroelectric power generation. To prevent a massive tariff hike that would result from relying on expensive imported fuels during these hours, the government has opted for a strategic 2.25-hour supply suspension during the peak window.

The Power Division emphasised that this measure is not traditional load-shedding but a targeted fiscal strategy to prevent the per-unit price from climbing by an estimated Rs3 to 6. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is reportedly monitoring the situation personally to ensure that local gas supplies are diverted to power plants, a move that has already averted price hikes for 80% of the consumer base.

Power distribution companies (DISCOs) have been directed to share feeder-specific schedules to ensure transparency and minimise public inconvenience. Furthermore, the government underscored that the timely closure of commercial markets, through federal and provincial coordination, remains a vital tool to further reduce demand and lower electricity costs for the general public.

K-Electric, HESCO consumers exempted

In a separate statement issued later during the day, the Power Division spokesperson stated that the consumers falling under the K-Electric (KE) and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) will not be facing this 2.25-hour loadshedding.

“Due to the availability of low-cost power generation in the southern region of the country and its supply to HESCO and K-Electric, load management is not being carried out in these two power distribution companies under the two-and-a-quarter-hour peak hours relief strategy.

“The primary reason is that these distribution companies have no influence over furnace oil-based power plants, while there is an ample supply of electricity generated from sources other than furnace oil in the southern region. Since this electricity is being provided exclusively to these two distribution companies, consumers are not being subjected to unnecessary inconvenience in this regard,” the spokesperson said.