In a move to curb power theft in the city, K-Electric has initiated installation of kunda-resistant 'Aerial Bundled Cable' (ABC) and distribution of low-cost metres to consumers under its flagship community building project 'Ujala.' K-Electric's officials told the Business Recorder on Tuesday that the drive was currently underway on fast track basis in parts of the metropolis. ABC is an advanced concept for overhead power distribution as compared to the conventional bare conductor.
Areas where the power utility has managed to convert its feeders into ABC included Rehmat Chowk, Ranchore Lane, Lines Area, Liaquatabad, Sakhi Hassan, Neelum colony, Gazdarabad, Gulshan e Jami ( Malir), Sector 7A Surjani Town, Gulshan-e- Mazdoor ( Baldia), Altaf Town, Bhittai Town and Pak Town in Korangi, Shanti Nagar, Sector 5-G North Karachi and Keamari (partially).
"The move is being carried out across this mega city in order to end power theft and bring about a positive change in the lives of consumers through the implementation of ABC, and distribution of low-cost metres to low-income communities,' one of the KE's officials said adding that ABCs were being used in different parts of the world, especially coastal and forest areas, where traditional design multiple conductors are considered messy and due to external factors such as humidity and high winds that caused them to short circuit and expose them to illegal hook connections.
ABCs make electricity theft harder, because of its specially designed insulators which act as a major theft deterrent. ABCs continue as a means towards sustained loss-reduction in areas infested with illegal consumption of electricity despite various external challenges and at times violent resistance from illegal electricity consumers.
The KE officials claimed that ABCs were successfully rolled out on some 945 Pole-Mounted Transformers (PMTs) in various localities of the city, especially in high-loss areas, where it had helped reduce losses significantly. To date, this development benefited around 112,650 consumers in terms of no load shedding or maximum three hours of daily load-shedding.
K-Electric began introducing ABCs by its installations under its pilot project in Gulshan Iqbal. Since then, power theft had gone down by a staggering 90 percent, they recalled. Although not an easy task due to resistance from local residents, but to ensure the ABC installation process progressed smoothly, KE took the initiative to engage with communities through community development activities and regular meetings with respected community representatives.
Recently, representatives of K-Electric held meetings with community influencers from political, social and religious backgrounds in 12 out of 14 targeted areas where KE planned to install ABCs. Moreover, the ABC project has caused significant reduction in consumer complaints; in certain areas, complaints hade gone down by around 90 percent as voltage deliver has improved and line faults have reduced.
During current drive to convert 453 PMTs to ABC, the power utility has targeted areas that is Lines Area, Defence, Garden, North Nazimabad, Korangi, Tipu Sultan Road, Jauhar Al Shifa Feeder, Cattle Colony, Shah Faisal, North Karachi and Surjani, they said adding that currently, KE had begun operational work in the areas of Patel Para, Metroville, Orangi 11 1/2, Memon Society, Gujrat Colony, Baloch Colony, Bizzerta Line and Sheerin Jinnah Colony.
K-Electric plans to convert another 1000 PMTs to ABC in the near future. After completion of this ABC conversion project, K-Electric expects an overall 13 percent reduction in line losses.
The officials said KE was also installing water purification plants, developing parks, creating women empowerment centres, upgrading welfare schools and health centres, alongside ensuring a healthy environment through area clean-up drives, health eye camps and tree plantations across marginalized communities under the community development project.
These social development initiatives will contribute to improving the living conditions and well-being of Karachiites belonging to underprivileged areas, while also ensuring that inhabitants receive basic necessities vital for tackling those challenges that the mega city would bring to the upcoming generations. The officials said these commu nities would be educated about issues relating to illegal hook connections and to be made aware about importance of 'Aerial Bundled Cable' (ABC) and energy conservation.