Summary Nepra in September had leveled allegations against the Ministry for Water and Power
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) on Monday has halted power outages temporarily after demand decreased significantly due to change in weather.
The Lesco authorities said that power demand has lessened by a notable margin. The decision has been taken after rain on Sunday that led to a sudden weather shift. Lesco is being provided supply from the national grid.
The development is likely to continue until the next two weeks. However, the electricity shortfall will increase after two weeks due to decrease in hydel power production. The situation will lead authorities to continue power outages then.
Earlier, Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif had said that power outages would be eliminated completely by 2017-18 with help of projects that are moving towards completion. On October 16, Nawaz had inaugurated a 1,230 Mega Watt (MW) liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant bear Jhang. He lauded the government machinery to curb outages by at least 50 percent already.
He mentioned a number of projects that have been initiated by the incumbent government including hydel, coal and solar powered plants.
The PM further had said that another project at Balloki Barrage would soon be inaugurated.
On the other hand, the government has exempted industrial sector from outages. Ministry of Water and Power’s Spokesperson Zafaryab Khan said in the past week that the development had come in bid to meet export products orders.
However, he said that a six to eight hour long outages are being carried out across the country in urban and rural localities. Primarily the areas with less recoveries and high losses are seeing load management, he added.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that outages could not end before March 2018. Dar was addressing a seminar regarding national economy when he gave out the deadline. The federal minister termed economical expansion crucial for development of the country and barred opposition parties from criticizing government’s sincere efforts.
READ MORE: Loadshedding cannot end before March 2018: Ishaq Dar
It should be noted here that National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) in September had leveled allegations against the Ministry for Water and Power for ‘deliberately’ carrying out outages. In the annual report issued by Nepra, the ministry was accused of resorting to power cuts despite need at times.
The report further mentioned that at least 70 percent customers have outdated Time of Use (TOU) metres. The authorities said that the outdated metres either benefit the government as it could pocket money for unconsumed units or the consumers since they might get charged lesser.
