'Heavy investment in transmission, distribution system': frequently tripping feeders, PMT faults expose lofty claims of K-Electric

The frequent feeders tripping, PMT faults and falling of wires have exposed the K-Electric's claim of investing heavily on improvement of infrastructure and transmission and distribution system of the utility. Sources said that feeders' tripping, PMT faults and wire falling have become routine matter during the sultry weather in the city, as the power utility has failed to install effective system to save feeders from tripping when there is overloading, overheating and frequency variation.
The sources said that equipments to avoid feeders' tripping in case of overloading, over heating and frequency variation were imported from China some two years back, but that were of inferior quality and did not work satisfactorily. As such whenever there is variation in the frequency or voltage in the incoming electricity, feeders are tripped causing total shut down of electricity in various areas.
They added that blackouts and power outages in Karachi were common since the new administration had taken over the utility. The power utility spends a huge amount on image building of the organisation, while the fact is that it has done nothing significant to improvise its infrastructure and transmission and distribution system, besides generation to overcome the power crisis in Karachi, they opined. During the last two weeks, the K-Electric's feeders/ transmission lines tripped thrice, which shows the utility's management is apparently not willing to improve its transmission and distribution system.
On late Wednesday night, some 12 grid stations tripped following the transmission line of Bin Qasim Thermal Power Plant, which resulted in power supply suspension to many city areas including Clifton, Sadder, and Lyari for about two hours. In the same way, just a week ago 220 KV underground transmission line of the utility near Qayumabad was damaged, affecting KE's underground transmission line which caused hours long loadshedding in various area of the city including Defence, Clifton, PECHS, Garden, Korangi, Jacoblines, Qayumabad, Gizri, Lyari, West Wharf & Queens Road etc.
"Whenever the power utility faces such situations it has no remedy to resolve the issue within a reasonable time period," they claimed. The sources further said that deployment of non-technical officials at the system and their negligence were also contributing to the company's inefficiency. When contacted, a K-Electric spokesman said that the affected transmission line at Bin Qasim was immediately restored by the utility's technical team within two hours. He said KE had prioritised electricity supply to hospitals, and ensured uninterrupted supply to the facilities during the shutdown.