The Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) has finally issued notices to all power generating and distribution companies directing them to use/purchase only Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority's (PSQCA) certified cables, as the substandard electric wire is highly contributing to electricity losses. Interestingly, Pepco has instructed power companies to use good quality cable approved by PSQCA for the first time since its inception in 1996.
Though it is one of the compulsory non-food items being certified by PSQCA under its Act of 1996, Pepco, the government body which provided electricity to millions of consumers through Discos, was yet to make the certification compulsory for purchase and use of the electric appliance.
Although experts believe that around 75 percent of energy losses in transmission and distribution networks of the country are due to poor quality and de-rated electric cables and other installations, even the government-controlled organisations are not ensuring installation of standardized wires.
Following a letter recently sent by PSQCA, Pepco on June 21, 2012 has issues notices to Gencos and Discos including Lesco, Gepco, Fesco, Iesco, Mepco, Pesco, Tesco, Hesco, Qesco, Sepco, Genco-1(Jamshoro Power Company) Mohra Jabal New Dadu road, Genco-2(Central Power Generation Company) Thermal Power Station Guddu, Genco-3(Northern Power Generation Company) Thermal Power Station Muzaffar Garh, Genco-4, Thermal Power Station Lakhra Sindh and NTDC Wapda House Lahore instructing heads of these companies to ensure the use of PSQCA-certified PVC insulated electric cables for electric wiring under the authority's Act No VI, 1996.
The notice was issued by Chief Engineer (Purchase and Disposal) of Pepco in response to a letter dated 04-06-2012 sent by PSQCA, Ministry of Science and Technology. According to sources, the substandard and cheaper verities of cables available in markets were being highly used by contractors and companies instead of energy efficient wires. The cheaper cables (made of aluminium) were only 60 to 70 percent efficient and bad conductor of electricity while the better copper cable as per recognised standard is 99.9 percent efficient.
At least 80 percent of electric shortcuts resulting in burning of whole offices, house, building and others, happened frequently in the country are as a result of the poor quality (poor conductor for electricity) electric wires. As there is no quality control and check on the substandard material/items being produced locally, not only number of causalities of electric burn is increasing but also causing increase in transmission and distribution (T&D) losses.
Though Pepco had earlier asked PSQCA to maintain energy-labelling standards and check the manufacturing of substandard electric equipment and wires in the country, but it failed to ensure the use of certified cables. The current energy consumption trends, in the country, despite the severe shortages, are extremely inefficient, whether it is in the domestic, industrial, trade or commercial sectors. According to experts over 1000 megawatts of electricity could be saved through installing the best conductor (copper) and energy efficient wires/cables and electric appliances.
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