Electricity shortfall rises to over 3,300mw

LAHORE

Shortfall between demand and supply of electricity increased to 3,324mw on Saturday, according to National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC).

Referring to the data compiled by Ministry of Water & Power, a spokesman for NTDC claimed that demand for power had increased to one of the highest levels being witnessed in the current summer season. He added that against the demand of 18,200mw, power generation stood at 1,4876mw, showing a shortfall of 3,324mw. 

The Ministry of Water and Power is constantly monitoring the power situation in the country.

Local faults are being rectified by special teams of power distribution companies (DISCOs) on immediate basis. Talking about power generation data of May 21, 2016, he added that hydel generation was recorded 5073mw at 9am and thermal 9803mw. The share of wind energy was 186mw.

He claimed that no unannounced loadshedding was being observed in the country. Normal predictable load management of six hours in urban areas and eight hours in rural areas and no loadshedding for industries is being carried out by the DISCOS. 

The areas with higher losses and theft, however, are having higher load management hours according to the percentage of losses.

The spokesman recalled that peak generation in the month of May 2013 was 12,671mw and in 2014, it was 13,217mw.

On May 20, 2016, he added, it reached 16,044mw, highest ever for the month of May. Power sector is also striving to meet the challenges of the unprecedented heat wave to its infrastructure.

The ministry has appealed to the consumers to register their local complaints with their area complaint centres. In case of any difficulty faced by the consumers, complaints can also be lodged at the federal level with Ministry of Water and Power Federal complaint cell on telephone numbers 051-9204430, 051-9103888 and 051-9206834. Online complaints can be lodged at www.mowp.gov.pk.

The ministry has also urged the consumers to adopt energy conservation measures and avoid wastage of electricity.

Shab-e-Barat duties: Lahore Police would deploy more than 5,000 officials for security on Shab-e-Barat.

DIG Operations Dr. Haider Ashraf said that police would provide foolproof security to mosques and imambargahs on the occasion.