LAHORE – Power outages have increased to four to seven hours, as electricity shortfall widened and crossed the 1,400MW mark on Saturday. Hydel, thermal and other power generation sources decreased rapidly in the last three days, as the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) failed to control the situation.
All power production sources touched their lowest ebb in recent days. Looking at the shortfall, PEPCO has also decreased supplies to the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to overcome the power shortfall. PEPCO higher-ups are insisting that the situation is under control and they would manage load shedding but in reality people are suffering badly.
A major reduction was seen in hydel generation, which dropped around 400MW only in one day. In the last three days, hydel generation remained more than 4,200MW and the situation was under control but on Friday and Saturday, there was a sharp decline in hydel generation, as it came down to 3,700MW. Similarly, Independent Power Producers (IPP) also faced reduction in production due to interruption in furnace oil supplies, as PEPCO owes huge amount to IPPs.
Production from IPPs has decreased by 400MW from 5,000MW on Thursday to 4,693MW on Friday. According to sources, power demand is increasing daily, as the weather is changing but production remains stagnant. “Although, PEPCO has cut nominal amount of supplies but if the situation worsens then there could be a significant cut,” sources said.
They said that recent rains have decreased power demand but in coming days, when mercury would increase, power demand would rise due to use of fans and air conditioners in southern parts of the country. Load shedding in cities remained four hours while in rural areas, it touched seven hours while distribution companies have also started load shedding during night.
There was no load shedding during night on Friday and Saturday but now there was one hour closure at night. Citizens expressed displeasure saying that the cricket world cup has started but they could not watch matches because of load shedding. “People were waiting impatiently for the world cup but PEPCO is spoiling the fun through load shedding,” cricket fan Rana Atif said.
