The committee which met here with Senator Zahid Khan in the chair also directed the additional secretary for restoring power supply immediately to water supply schemes in Hyderabad.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) apprised the committee that power supply to all important government departments were discontinued on the directives of State Minister for Water and Power for non-payment of dues. However, he said that prior notices were issued to these departments for clearing their dues.
The CEO said Rs 619 million were recovered during the recovery drive and power supply was restored to these departments after payment.
He said that power supply to Capital Development Authority, NADRA, TMA Murree, PM and President Secretariats were also disconnected for non-payment.
To a question, the CEO informed the panel that CDA paid only RS.376 million out of total Rs.2.3 billion. However, power supply to water treatment plants of CDA was restored shortly, he added.
He said that CDA still has defaulter of Rs.1850 million adding that streets lights bill surged to Rs.1700 million.
The CEO said that presently there was no unscheduled load-shedding in the areas of Islamabad. However, tentatively, 8-10 hours load-shedding would be carried during the coming months May-August 2014 in accordance with the generation quota to be allocated by Regional Control Centre Islamabad.
The officials of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) informed the committee that the government departments have paid Rs.500 million out of total Rs.1 billion outstanding dues under reconcile arrangement and the remaining amount would be paid by June. They said that no area was exempted from load-management except government hospitals and high court.
The CEO Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) apprised the Panel that Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) was major defaulter and the out standing dues against TMA surged to Rs.2.2 billion. Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) has paid Rs.863 million out of total Rs.1562 million, he said.
To a question, the CEO said that bills of governor and chief minister houses and provincial assembly were regularly being paid.
Quetta Electric Supply Company (QUESCO) official informed the committee that police, education and health departments were the main defaulters. The tube wells subsidies bill swelled to Rs.80 billion, he said. The committee recommended that the both the federal and provincial governments should clear the amount till May 30.
The committee was informed that 2000 MW electricity to be added to the national grid system by december.
The panel was also informed that currently 394 employees of National Power Construction Corporation (NPCC) were working in Saudi Arabia.
The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali, Senators Moula Baksh Chandio, Mrs Khalida Parveen, Hamayun Khan Mandokhel and Nisar Muhammad, Secretary Water and Power, Chairman WAPDA Zafar Mehmood, IESCO, LESCO, QUESCO CEOs and other senior officials.