Power load shedding is breaking all records in the pre-summer season as it crossed 4680 MW shortfall a day after Pakistan Day. It came after multiple assurances from the countrys power managers after a similar week prior to this one that the load shedding will be back to the normal three hour duration as some issues have been sorted out and the water level at dams has started to rise.
The helpless and hapless power authority, Pepco has now decided to try its luck with the same old proposal of closure of shops and markets at 8 oclock in the night. Pepco believes that if the markets are shut down at 8 pm, it would result in electricity savings of 500 MW.
Significant it maybe, but just how would the 500 MW saving help the load shedding, to be brought back to three hours from the present 7-8 hours, needs some serious explanation. There is every chance that the electricity deficit come April would be on the higher side, but for arguments sake, even if the current shortfall prevails, the implementation of the Pepco proposal would at best result in an hours reduction in the load shedding duration.
On the other side, market representative bodies are naturally not too keen about the idea of pulling the shutters down in the peak business hours. An official representing a large market in the urban centre of Karachi shared his disapproval of the Pepco proposal with BR Research. "The markets in Karachi alone suffered a daily loss of Rs300-400 million when we were forced to close our businesses at 8 oclock last year", said another market body representative.
Late hour shopping is a nationwide phenomenon which needs quite a cultural shift to be replaced with any other pattern. What is more worrying is that the turnover loss would surely be much more than Rs 300-400 million per day, as these numbers only reflect Karachis position. Whether or not the 500 MW saving is worth losing this amount of money, is a question that should be best answered by the decision makers.
There is no denying the need to save electricity in such times of supply constraints, but the idea should be economically viable with minimal impact on the masses. This is something, where the Pepco proposal lacks credibility.
It is not that there are no other options which could result in electricity savings of greater magnitude than 500 MW. A report by the Asian Development Bank highlights that around 80 percent street lights remain open 24 hours, which results in a wastage of 600-650 MW - more than what the early market closure would save.
Another power saving plan whose future now looks uncertain is that of the CFL bulbs, which would result in electricity savings of 1280 MW, according to the ADB. So, it is time that the government starts thinking the right way on the power saving journey - wastages should be minimized with minimal loss to the common man.
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