Consumers question: K-E's load-shedding strategy

Though the K-Electric consumers are protesting and complaining against frequent and prolong load-shedding in different localities, the power utility said it has maintained regular supply of electricity across the city without increasing the load-shedding duration. Sources said K-electric was supplying uninterrupted power supply to industries and some posh areas on the basis of 100 percent recoveries. But at the same time, residents of various localities are being subjected to frequent and prolong power outages even in the hot and scorching days of summer.
They also pointed figure at KE's present load shedding plan which, according to them, favors only the efficient consumers. The major flaw in this policy is that the inhabitants of defaulted areas, who regularly pay their bills, are also facing power disconnections.
In a most recent public hearing at a local hotel, the Nepra's Chairman Tariq Saddozai asked KE to carryout equal load-shedding in the city during the hot days, regardless of high loss, medium loss and low loss areas. Meanwhile, in a statement KE spokesman reiterated that there had been no increase in the load-shedding duration and there was no unannounced load-shedding being carried out in the city.
With a city-wide presence and having one of the country's largest call-center network and round the clock field teams, KE has a 24/7 approach to customer care. In the last six years, KE has added over 1,000 MW into the system and significantly enhanced the system through investments of over $1.2 Billion. The company plans to invest another $2.8 billion in the next 5-8 years.
Through these efforts, today 60 percent of Karachi is load shedding free whereas areas that experience load shedding do so up to a maximum of 7.5 hours per day. The statement explained that local faults result in outage due to excessive use of illegal hook connections. Illegal hook connections increased the load on the PMTs and cause tripping feeders and technical faults. According to the KE's spokesperson, "KE team work round the clock to address faults. This outage should not be confused with load-shed."
"KE humbly requests its consumers to assist the utility in curbing power theft and inform the utility of any broken wires or technical faults without any delay. This can be done by calling on our 118 or the alternate 021-99000; via SMS to 8119 or register their complaint on KE's digital platforms," the spokesperson added.