Domestic consumers first priority: CEO Lesco

Engineer Muhammad Saleem, Chief Executive Officer of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) said 'it is our first and foremost priority to provide uninterrupted and smooth supply of electricity to the domestic consumers instead of industrialists. Now, besides Costumers Services Centers (CSC), Rapid Response system has been introduced at every Circle Office which would be remaining operational round the clock to redress the problems of the consumers at their doorstep.
He said that Customer Services Centers are busy to provide relief to the domestic as well as commercial and industrial consumers throughout the week. While addressing a press conference here at LESCO Headquarters Engineer Muhammad Saleem said that "We have achieved 100% recovery target during the last six months which is Lesco's singular achievement as compared to other DISCOs.
When I took charge as CEO LESCO last month, power theft was a big challenge for the LESCO administration. For this purpose special and comprehensive plan has been chalked out to control this manic. Special teams comprised of Intelligence Force; security force and police were constituted. Surprise and unannounced raids were conducted in various domestic and commercial areas where power theft was rampant. More than 31 FIRs were registered against the culprits and the accused were arrested, he added. He said LESCO teams billed 8.97 millions units to the power thieves in the five circles office of the region and 913.6 million rupees were recovered from the defaulters during the last six months of this year.
About the Lesco's outstanding dues, he said, Punjab government is to pay Rs 6 billion to LESCO. Pakistan Railway is a defaulter of Rs 843 million , WASA Rs 548 million City District Government Lahore (CDGL) Rs 404 million, Local bodies Rs 3,511 millions, receivables from the autonomous bodies have swelled up to Rs 1,804 million.
In response to a question, he said strict action is taken against the officials involved in over billing and it will continue till total elimination of this malpractice. Approximately, 25 thousand new connections were given to the consumers; however, the under construction Metro Bus service project of the Punjab government is also hurdles in the way of smooth power supply to the consumers. During the shifting of electricity polls power supply has to be discontinued for several hours he elaborated.