70pc KE service territory exempted from load-shedding, SHC told

Seventy percent of K-Electric’s service territory is exempted from load-shedding, while active steps are being taken to expand the exempted zone further, KE told the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday.

Filing comments on a petition filed by the Jamaat-e-Islami against frequent load-shedding in the city, KE said that according to the power utility’s investment plan, it is estimated that 95 per cent of KE’s service territory would be exempted from load-shedding by the financial year 2029-30.

The SHC had directed KE to file details of its actions regarding heatwaves, and explain what social corporate responsibilities are being discharged by it in the looming heatwaves.

The court was informed that KE has halted new connections in illegal buildings, and is actively discontinuing any metered or Kunda connections in such buildings. However, it pointed out, action by the Sindh Building Control Authority and the law enforcement agencies in such situations is essential to reduce the number of illegal constructions and the ensuing electricity thefts.

KE’s counsel said the power company is undertaking all possible efforts to minimise the duration of load-shedding in respect of 30 per cent load-shedding through drives to remove illegal connections, recovery efforts and the initiation of criminal proceedings in case of thefts.

He said KE is actively engaged in mitigating the heatwave impact through a collaborative approach, which entails maintaining open communication channels with the relevant authorities, including the provincial energy department.

After taking the comments on record, an SHC division bench headed by Justice Arshad Hussain Khan asked the petitioner’s counsel to file a rejoinder, if any, on the next date of hearing.

Counsel Usman Farooq had earlier submitted that KE being the largest power utility service provider in Karachi is also responsible for maintaining transmission lines in the city but is not carrying out its responsibilities, as the residents have been suffering from frequent load-shedding.

Farooq said electricity consumers in the city have to bear long hours of unannounced power cuts, particularly in the sizzling heat of the summer season. He said that a large number of people have lost their lives due to heatwaves, and one of the reasons for their deaths was disruptions in the power supply, as no extraordinary steps were taken by KE when the heatwave was notified in advance.

The petition, filed by JI Karachi chief Munem Zafar and City Council opposition leader Saifuddin Advocate, said KE has been conducting load-shedding for 10 to 16 hours daily in different localities on the pretext of losses attributed to power theft, and this practice has severely affected the quality of life of the residents.

They said that the load-shedding situation in Karachi is alarming in the heatwave scenario, as hundreds of people are being hospitalised while many residents have lost their lives due to the extremely hot weather.

The JI leaders said that according to KE, of the 2,109 feeders in Karachi, 1,500 face no load-shedding, while others are subjected to load-shedding according to their loss rates, which means that 71 per cent of the feeders have no load-shedding.

They rejected KE’s claim that high-loss areas in the city face up to 7.5 hours of load-shedding when the energy demand is at its peak, while low-loss areas face no load-shedding. They said the City Council has unanimously passed a resolution condemning KE’s failure to provide uninterrupted power supply, especially during heatwaves, adding that the resolution calls on KE to immediately upgrade its infrastructure and generation capacity to meet Karachi’s electricity demand and prevent further loss of lives due to power outages.

They also said that continuous load-shedding and power outages are causing severe hardships and distress to the residents of the city, affecting their health, safety and overall quality of life, and also causing significant economic losses to them.

They requested the SHC to direct KE to immediately halt the practice of load-shedding and adhere to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s performance standards rules and fine regulations.

They also requested the court to direct KE to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to end load-shedding, including measures to curb power theft and improve infrastructure, as soon as possible.