Loadshedding schedule issued for all parts of country excluding Karachi
ISLAMABAD: The government has come up with an ambitious load management plan during the summer with six-hour outages in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas as electricity generation may touch the staggering figure of 17,500 MWs.
Power conservation measures include a plan to close down commercial markets by 8pm that will also help save 1,000-1,500 MWs of electricity. Those who will open their businesses after 8pm will have to pay three times as much tariff. Karachi is not included in the load management plan that has been finalised and will be pitched before the prime minister for approval. Under the energy conservation plan, the Ministry of Water and Power will undertake a media campaign to sensitise the masses about the fruits of saving electricity.
The last year’s peak generation of electricity stood at 16,890 MWs. However, in the month of Ramazan, to begin on June 7, the industrial sector will be exposed to some power outages too.
This time, the old Guddu power plant that has been rehabilitated will add 550 MWs of electricity to the system as the same plant prior to its upgrading was generating 150-200 MWs of electricity last year. This time, with the hydro generation of 7,000 MWs, the system will work for the maximum time as dams have more than sufficient water and inflows are also on the rise.
On top of that, it is also expected that the Chashma nuclear power plant (C-3) will start providing over 300 MWs in the month of August. In addition, four windmills will also inject at least 100 MWs of electricity to the system, top officials of the Ministry of Water and Power told The News.
Though the demand is also on the higher side, the dwellers in urban centers would not experience loadshedding more than six hours and in rural areas eight hours as the industrial sector will continue to enjoy zero loadshedding other than the month of Ramazan.
The ministry’s media campaign will promote the usage of efficient electrical appliances so that electricity could be saved.However, the press release issued by the ministry says that with better management, system improvements and addition of new generation the power sector is prepared to provide electricity in the coming summer to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers. In areas where recoveries are up to the mark and losses are within permissible limit, loadshedding hours will remain predictable and as per schedule. However, in areas where losses are greater and recoveries are lower, the Ministry of Water and Power has chalked out a special load management plan.
A percentage wise schedule for each and every electricity 11kv feeder has been issued across the country based on recoveries and losses, whereby high loss/theft areas will be subjected to higher than the announced loadshedding.
This strategy has been devised keeping in view the principle of equality in terms of recoveries and losses. Responsible consumers should have lesser number of loadshedding hours as compared to non-payers or those involved in power theft.
The Ministry of Water and Power has also directed all the 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 the loadshedding hours.
It will now become possible for consumers of a particular feeder to adjust their loadshedding hours by paying their bills and assist their distribution companies to act against power theft. The ministry has already introduced new amendments in the 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 24/7 to address the complaints of consumers and also work against the 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 loadshedding hours on an average have witnessed a 50% decline as compared to the year 2013 and will continue such decline after peak summer months.
The ministry has also appealed to consumers to adopt energy conservation during their daily routine which can lead to savings of around 1,500MW of electricity. This can substantially reduce the loadshedding hours. The government is also planning to aggressively promote energy conservation through media campaigns.