Altaf Hamid Rao
MIRPUR (AJK): State-run Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Monday directed all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to prepare robust proposals to reduce the power distribution losses Aggregate Technical & Commercial Losses (AT&C), immediately, it was officially declared.
The directions, according to an official media release issued on Monday, were passed by PEPCO management in wake of loss of considerable amount of energy beyond the permissible limit during last 5 months at 11 kV feeders of all 10 Power Distribution Companies. 50 percent and above losses on 745 feeders were recorded during the month of Nov 2017 which resulted in loss of 250.71 million KWH (units). Whereas the losses at same percentage were recorded during July to Nov 2017 on 1241 feeders of DISCOs (except IESCO) incurred the loss of 2233.67 million units of electricity.
Progress Report revealed that among the worst performing DISCOs PESCO lost 141.85 million units in KPK, LESCO lost 16.64 million units in Punjab, SEPCO lost 20.01 million units in Sindh and 37.37 units were lost by QESCO in Balochistan in the month of Nov 2017, only.
PEPCO Management said that this loss is a perpetual drain on the power sector finances and indicates the poor performance and inefficiency on the part of DISCOs. MD PEPCO Musaddiq Ahmed Khan directed the CEOs to prepare the proposals including but not limited to the options of outsourcing billing and collection on the aforementioned feeders. The proposals should be placed before respective Board of Directors of DISCOs for consideration, decision and implementation, he added.
MD PEPCO said that progress of DISCOs will be monitored in monthly review meetings, failure to improve reasonably well, may entail extreme measures under applicable rules/law including Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) Rules 1978, Electricity Act and NAB Ordinance, if needed.
