The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) is facing 24 percent power theft, amounting to Rs 24 billion per year, despite investing around Rs 60 million on replacement of bare copper conductor (BCC) with aerial bundle cables (ABC).
According to sources, in October 2007, KESC had decided to change the copper conductors, especially in the newly developed rural areas where 'kunda system' or 'hook connections' are on the rise. "According to a formula, set by KESC to calculate the power losses, the percentage of power theft is roughly around 24, while one percent accounts for one billion rupees per annum," they said.
They said that the public utility had purchased ABC worth Rs 60 million from France to discourage power theft. They said that the Company had installed the French made cables in different areas of the metropolis, like Awan Colony No 1 and 2, Christian Colony, Bangali Para, Orangi Town, etc.
Installation of the new electric wires was also underway in other neighbourhoods of the city, like Martin Road, AB Cinnya Line, Soldier bazaar, etc, they added. They said the strategy of installing new cables in these areas failed as the people use alternative measures for power theft like getting multiple connections from the point where a regular customer is linked, through a wire.
Sources, however, added that the fast developing new poor localities were stealing less electricity as compared to those living in posh areas of the metropolis, with KESC staffers being their accomplices in most of the reported cases.
They also criticised KESC management for not taking any action against its officials, allegedly involved in irregularities, like distribution of illegal connections, power theft, issuance of fixed bills to the customer etc. Ironically, sources said, power thieves from the under/least developed areas are often brought under heavy criticism, but no one has the moral courage to raise voice when the same is committed in posh areas.