LAHORE, Nov 5: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) is expected to generate over Rs51 billion revenue during the current fiscal year.

This was stated by Lesco Chief Executive Officer Brig Riaz Ahmad Toor while speaking to executive committee members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Wednesday.

He said the revenue of Lesco, supplying electricity to consumers in Lahore, Okara, Sheikhupura and Kasur districts, was growing by 14.15 per cent annually against 10 per cent increase in power consumption.

The power tripping frequency, he said, had decreased by 67 per cent in Lahore during the last three months, mainly on account of ban on kite-flying and installation of new transformers in different city areas.

At least 5,000 new transformers were being added to city’s electric system annually to improve the supply network, he said.

About the industrial consumers in the Lahore region, he said that these consumers, who formed about 2.5 per cent of the total Lesco consumers, had been consuming 47 per cent of the electricity. He said the power consumption in the industrial sector grew by 5.3 per cent during the month of October.

Mr Toor said the date for payment of bills by the industrial consumers might be extended by few days if it fell during the Eid days. The concessional treatment was being given to the sick units so that these could be revived.

The Lesco chief said the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) should be asked to hear petitions in Lahore as most of the power consumption was taking place in the Lahore region.

Earlier, LCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar presented the address of welcome.—APP