The federal government has asked Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) government to pay Nepra determined actual tariff of Rs 14.65 per unit or be ready for disconnection. This was disclosed by Additional Secretary Incharge Ministry of Water and Power, Saifullah Chattha in a briefing to the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Water and Power on Wednesday. The meeting was presided over by Arshad Khan Leghari. Standing committee members criticised Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif and Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali for not attending the meeting.
Discos known for high receivables were represented; however, they were unable to satisfy the committee members. Additional Secretary Incharge informed the meeting that AJK's current applicable tariff is Rs 14.65 per unit but they are not ready to pay more than Rs 2.59 per unit which was determined in 2010; AJ&K government is charging Rs 12 per unit from its consumers.
The overall outstanding arrears of AJ&K are Rs 37 billion. "The federal government has taken up the issue of receivables with AJ&K. Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Asif has personally telephoned AJ&K Prime Minister, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and sought his help to resolve the payment issue," he added. Federal Government has offered to bring its team which will sit with the officials of AJ&K government to settle this issue, he continued.
"We have conveyed to the AJ&K government that if actual price of electricity is not paid, it will be difficult for the federal government to continue power supply," Chattha maintained. Committee members raised questions on incomplete development projects despite the fact that funds have been released. Discos' top officials gave assurance to the members that development schemes will be completed soon. The issue of fixing and replacement of transformers also came under discussion. Members were apprised that transformer manufacturers had formed a cartel and approached the court. However, now the issue has been settled and transformers will be fixed as early as possible. Some of members argued that sub committees should be formed for early resolution of electricity issues.
Briefing the committee on demand and supply position, Additional Secretary Incharge informed the committee that presently electricity average shortfall stood at 2000 MW as demand is about 14,500 MW against generation of 12,500 MW. He said, load shedding duration depends on electricity quota being given to each Disco, adding that high loss making Discos are facing more load shedding as compared to those where losses are lower and recovery is better.
The chairman of the committee directed Discos' representatives to display load shedding schedules outside the officers of SDOs and also provide a copy to the MNA of respective constituency. Average loadshedding is in the range of five hours in urban areas and six hours in rural areas. Load shedding estimates are based on previous day's data and future projections. Live data of 8,900 feeders across the country is available in each Disco, Ministry of Water and Power and Prime Minister Office. Additional Secretary Incharge Water and Power Ministry apprised the committee that May's load shedding schedule will almost remain the same in the remaining days of the month.
He said electricity generation has increased with improved supply of furnace oil, increase in hydel generation by about 2000 MW and diversion of natural gas from fertilizer sector to power sector which is power sector's allocated share. According to him, electricity position will also remain the same in June but improve in July because of increase in generation, adding that hydel generation will be 6000 MW in July.
In reply to a question, Saifullah Chattha said that 'Ramazan package' of electricity supply will also be announced prior to Ramazan. "We have been instructed to ensure three hours supply during Sehri and three hours during Iftar and Taraveeh,' he added. Chief Executive Pesco, Brigadier Tariq Sadozai (retired) informed the committee that current arrears against KPK government are almost negligible as the provincial government paid Rs 500 million recently but the overdue arrears are about Rs 186 billion (including tariff increase plus fuel adjustment) which the provincial government had promised to pay on behalf of the public.
He said consumers of those areas where losses are 90 and 80 percent, are facing 20-hour and 18-hour loadshedding, respectively. PTI MNA from Malakand Junaid Akbar expressed anger over non-supply of electricity to the people of his constituency despite improved recovery and one of the worst distribution and transmission systems. He said it appears that Pesco is being used against PTI. CEO Pesco explained that a lack of investment in the system is the main reason behind the losses but added that new investment has been planned to improve the system.
Managing Director Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco), Zargham Ishaq Khan informed the committee that current arrears against provincial government stood at Rs 70 billion of which Rs 4.5 billion are against Punjab-based Discos, Rs 4.5 billion against Pesco Rs 0.754 million, Hesco Rs 5 billion, Sepco Rs 6 billion (11 billion), and Quetta Rs 5.1 billion.
Comments
Comments are closed.