Power Distribution Programme: USAID begins installation of LT capacitors at IESCO

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s Power Distribution Progra-mme, in co-operation with the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), has started installation of Low Tension (LT) capacitors on irrigation tube-wells in IESCO's Chakwal Circle.
Currently the project is assisting the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) and IESCO in the installation of capacitors. The USAID's installations of over 700 LT capacitors in MEPCO have already resulted in an estimated 3 Megawatt (MW) reduction in demand, improved voltage and availability of surplus electricity for tube-wells.
Chakwal Circle has over 620 irrigation tube-wells that consume more than 6.4 MW electricity. The USAID capacitors installation project will result in the release of 15 percent of consumption, saving approximately 1 MW electricity for IESCO. The USAID Power Distribution Programme has also identified other circles in IESCO where these capacitors will be installed.
This assistance to DISCOs is provided as part of the US commitment to support the Government of Pakistan in reforming the energy sector and addressing the problems of the DISCOs. USAID implements these assistance programmes, which also support the capacity building of DISCOs' staff and Board of Directors, installations of equipment to improve the power factor, institutional development, gender, communications and outreach and energy efficiency.
"Installation of over 7,000 capacitors on irrigation tube-wells will reduce the power demand on the feeders, improve voltage and reduce technical losses of IESCO," said Dick Dumford, Chief Technical Advisor of USAID's Power Distribution Programme. "The USAID Power Distribution Programme shall continue to assist DISCOs to bring improvements to their systems so the people of Pakistan get more electricity. Our plan is to replicate capacitors' installation at other DISCOs which will further improve the power factor and reduce losses."
USAID Power Distribution Programme is a four and a half year, USAID-funded programme aimed at working jointly with government-owned DISCOs in Pakistan to improve their performance in terms of a reduction in losses, and improvement in both revenues and customer services, to bring them to the level of well-run utilities in other progressive countries. Through this programme, the United States government provides assistance and support to the government of Pakistan in its efforts to reform the power sector to end the current energy crisis.