Equitable distribution of electricity: Supreme Court asks CEOs of Discos, managing director NTDC to implement its order

The Supreme Court on Friday issued directives to Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all power distribution companies (Discos) to hold a meeting with Managing Director National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) to ensure implementation on its earlier orders for equitable electricity distribution among domestic and industrial consumers.
A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing of a suo-motu case on massive electricity loadshedding in the country. The court asked CEOs of Discos, chairman Indus River System Authority (IRSA), Secretary Ministry of Water and Power to submit a joint statement to the Registrar''s office after their meeting with managing director of NTDC and CEO Discos on Saturday (today).
In its short order, the court categorically said: "It is made clear to all the CEOs of Discos that they are bound by this order which shall be implemented without any excuse". At the outset of hearing, the bench inquired why its May 21 order was not implemented in letter and in spirit.
"What makes the authority concerned to supply power without discrimination in the country either it is Presidency, Prime Minister House, apex court or a common consumer," it added.
Managing Director NTDC Zargham Eshaq Khan apprised the bench that the project relating to the installation of smart metering system in all the feeders across Pakistan would be completed by September. He told the court that the system would enable mangers to figure out the quantum of electricity being consumed through power distribution companies.
Expressing annoyance over the current loadshedding, Justice Chaudhry observed: "The consumers are staging protest demonstrations under scorching heat...they are not crazy but want to draw the attention of policymakers to address the growing issue of load-shedding".
He further questioned why electricity supply to key institutions that had defaulted on payments was not disconnected. Zargham told the bench that currently there was a shortfall of 3800MW, "which is 30 percent of total production of electricity in the country."
The Chief Justice said that it was hard to understand why power distribution companies were established in the country. He added that there was no issue when Wapda was running the whole affairs.
Terming the power companies formation and operation a complicated development, he remarked that these would be more legal complications after the establishment of so many power companies.
Directing the court officials to communicate court''s order in the current matter to all concerned during the course of the day through managing director Pepco and NTDC for strict compliance, the bench adjourned the hearing of case till June 10.