‘SEPCO suffers power theft losses of Rs13.8 bn a year’

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power Ch Abid Sher Ali has disclosed that power theft in the jurisdiction of Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) has touched a new high — over Rs13.8 billion per annum.
The minister stated this here on Monday in a meeting of the NA Committee on Water and Power, and added those involved in power theft included towering political figures of the area. He said disclosing their names would cause political upheaval in the country.
He said the Sindh Rangers were being tasked to recover the arrears. “Spending Rs360 million in salaries per month and in return sustaining a loss of Rs1.15 billion cannot go together.” The minister claimed that when the PML-N came to power, the transmission and distribution system was not strong enough to sustain the load of even 13,000 MW, which had now improved a lot and two weeks back the system carried the load of 16,900 MWs of electricity.
The NA committee also accorded approval to the National Electric Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2015 under which those found involved in wasting electricity will be fined and also the companies which are not making efficient electric appliances will be taken to task.
Hasan Nasir Jami, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power, while briefing the members of NA committee, said that the new bill aims to persuade the people to conserve electricity.
Those who waste electricity will be heavily fined and the companies not manufacturing energy-saving appliances will also be penalised.
Under the bill, the conservation board is to be constituted headed by federal minister of water and power under which National Energy Conservation Authority will be made operational.