Loss-making feeders to face loadshedding: Leghari

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari Thursday affirmed that loadshedding would continue on high-loss making feeders, signaling ongoing challenges in the nation’s power sector.

Additionally, Leghari assured the public that the current net metering policy would continue, although he hinted at potential adjustments to the purchasing rates implemented since 2017. Speaking at a press conference, Leghari, accompanied by Ali Pervaiz Malik, State Minister for Finance and Revenue, disclosed that as of May 29, 2024, Pakistan’s electricity demand reached 25,820 megawatts (MW), whereas only 21,588 MWs were generated and supplied to the system, leaving a deficit of 4,232 MWs. He also emphasized the need for measures to curb losses in the power sector.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Leghari specified that loadshedding primarily affected the loss-bearing feeders falling in Category 3-8, which were deprived of electricity to mitigate further economic strain on the country’s economy. “We didn’t provide electricity to these feeders because it will add to losses in the power sector,” he said adding, “We cannot afford to escalate our circular debt any further.”

Addressing the issue of power theft, Leghari underscored the necessity of penalizing areas rampant with such malpractice, emphasizing collaborative efforts required from distribution companies and provincial governments to alleviate the strain on the power sector. He said until the distribution companies changed their course and controlled their losses with the assistance of provincial governments, “loadshedding will continue on these high-loss feeders” adding, “The areas where electricity theft is rampant need to be penalized.”

Acknowledging technical faults contributing to power outages on Category 1 and 2 feeders with losses of less than 20 percent owing to technical faults, Leghari instructed the CEOs of distribution companies to enhance service quality and eliminate power interruptions on no-loss feeders.

Assuring the nation of sufficient generation and transmission capacity to meet the escalating summer demand, the energy minister cited the hydel sources contributing 7,000 MWs, with a hydel capacity potential of 10,000 MWs, alongside the activation of additional power plants to bolster electricity production.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to its prevailing net-metering policy, Leghari affirmed that any revision would be duly communicated through a policy statement following comprehensive evaluations. Explaining the current net-metering mechanism, Leghari elucidated on the unit-for-unit exchange system and the purchase of excess units from consumers by power companies at set prices, hinting at potential revisions to the purchasing rates established since 2017 to alleviate the cost burden on consumers.

In a bid to enhance transparency, Leghari announced forthcoming data disclosure on power distribution through the Roshan Pakistan App, available on the Play Store, facilitating informed decision-making for consumers.