The Chief Executive of Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco), Brigadier Tahir Saeed Malik, has claimed that during the last one and a half year the company has reduced its line losses and the overall recovery has registered an increased by 11 percent.
Addressing a press conference here at Wapda House, Peshawar, regarding performance of the company during last financial year, he said that Pesco line losses had been reduced by 0.6 percent saving Rs137 million.
The Pesco chief attributed these achievements to cutting long distance lines, replacement of defective meters and constitution of special monitoring committees which removed direct connections and replaced small transformers.
He said that due to these initiatives the progress on billing of the company was increased by 1.06 percent.
"We have not only achieved our target given by Wapda, but also increased collection by 24 percent. The total collection of previous financial year was Rs 18 billion, but in the financial year 2003-04 the company collected Rs 22.5 billion," Brigadier Tahir said.
Regarding arrears recovery, he said that an amount of Rs 8.097 billion is recoverable against defaulters of which Rs 731 million is under process in courts with Rs 508 million outstanding against Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estates. He said that Rs 4.091 billion is against running defaulters of which Rs 2.877 billion is outstanding against marble industries in Shabqadar.
Tahir said that Wapda has also announced a special relief package for defaulters, which would help recover Rs 2.575 billion.
He said that Pesco is providing subsidised electricity to 159,400 consumers which costs Rs 1 billion.
Regarding development schemes completed during last financial year, the Pesco chief said that seven grid stations were completed in only one year to improve the power supply system in the province.
He said that in the past only 3 to 4 grid stations were constructed in one year. He said that 19 power transformers at different grid stations were also augmented at a cost of Rs 290 million and work on augmentation of 6 more grid stations was continuing which will cost Rs 627 million.
About mega electricity supply projects in the province, he said that Daudkhel-Domail transmission line would be completed by the end of the current month costing Rs 1.2 billion.
This would substantially improve the supply situation in southern districts of Hangu, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Laki Mawat and Kurram Agency. He said that on commissioning of the project overloading would be overcome to some extent.
Attributing the load-shedding to fall in water level in reservoirs, like Tarbela, Mangla, and the matter of price adjustment with independent power producers (IPPs), he said these issues increased the demand and decreased production. However, he said, all power distribution companies of the country resort to load-shedding.
"We never use power shutdown to tease consumers and create problems for them. It is a last resort to protect the system from total collapse. It occurs due to overloading of the Sheikh Muhammadi and Mardan grid stations," Tahir said.
Regarding internal accountability in the company, the chief executive of Pesco said that a total of 596 employees including 356 officers have been punished for wrongdoings like over-billing and lack of co-operation with consumers.
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