The non-existence of 'protective gadgets' on feeders and inefficient 'frequency synchronising' mechanism of K-Electric were the major reasons behind the recurrent feeder tripping, which causes hours-long power breakdown in the metropolis.
The frequent feeders tripping resulting in prolong load shedding has aggravated the public anger against the KE, which is already facing criticism and enquiries by government institutions for its poor and unsatisfactory services.
Feeder tripping is not a new phenomena, it become routine issue during every summer in the city as what sources said that KE failed to install efficient protective gadgets on its power feeders to protect them from tripping incase of overloading, over heating and frequency variation.
They said that protective equipments were imported from a neighbouring country few years back, but these turned out to be of inferior quality hence did not work satisfactorily. As such whenever there are variations in the frequency or voltage in the incoming electricity from out sources, the feeder breakdown occur causing prolong shut down of electricity in various areas of the city.
They added that blackouts and power outages in Karachi are common since the new administration has taken over the utility. The power utility spends a huge amount on its image building, while the fact is that it has done nothing significant to overcome power crisis in Karachi.
It may be recalled here that the KE's feeders/ transmission lines tripped four times this week. The frequent feeders tripping shows that the management is not willing to improve its transmission system, "KE's performance is questionable. Being one of the major power utilities, it should improve its performance from generation to distribution with uninterrupted power supply to its 2.2 million consumers that includes domestic, industrial and commercial sector. It should find a durable solution to the frequent feeder tripping rather than giving stereotype statements in the media," said a frenzied citizen, who wished not to be named.
The first breakdown in Karachi occurred at around 9:00 pm on 8 July due to what KE claimed tripping in the 220 KV transmission line - affecting the generating units at KE's Bin Qasim Power Station that caused an outage in many parts of Karachi. The electricity resumed in many pockets after several hours. ?
However, as soon as Bin Qasim's units were back online, tripping occurred in the supply system in Sindh at around 1: 00 am on the same date, which pulled down delivery in Karachi. Further outages also occurred in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Jamshoro, Hub, Uthal, Bela and Vinder and this "cascading effect"? compounded challenges, KE said.
The sudden disruption of supply technically tripped the entire system to which the power utility/generation companies of Karachi and Sindh are connected.
"We apologies to our valued consumers for the issues caused by this breakdown and assure the public at large that K-Electric has made every effort to rapidly resume service to them," KE spokesman added.
Similarly around 2: 00 am on Thursday, power supply from 12 out of 64 grid stations stalled due to tripping at the KDA Auto-transformer causing a breakdown in some parts of the city. The supply of power was interrupted due to tripping on the auto-transformer, causing a breakdown in North Nazimabad, FB Area, Azizabad, Nazimabad, Johar, Malir and its surrounding areas and many others areas. KE engineers and its technical team worked for the restoration of the tripped and resolved within few hours and electricity supply resumed to the affected parts.
And the latest tripping occurred in 220 KV transmission line of Pipri/ICI during the early hours of Sunday. Due to which, 10 out of 64 KE's grid stations effected causing power suspension to various parts of the city.