March 15, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1429

PESHAWAR, March 14: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has re-commenced three to five hours loadshedding in the NWFP because of ‘lower’ than required hydel power generation in the country.

“Currently, the Pesco faces a net shortfall of 300MW, which will be balanced through load management ranging from three to five hours a day,” an official of the public utility told Dawn here on Friday. According to him, low water level availability at hydel dams has caused decrease in generation, while at the same time weather was also getting warmed that ultimately had increased the power consumption.

In order to overcome this gap, the Pesco like all other distribution companies, has again started load management carried out for one hour three to five times in 24 hours on all 11 KV feeders emanating from different grid stations in the NWFP, in accordance with the quota given by the National Transmission and Dispatch Company, Islamabad.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the company appealed to the consumers to extend their cooperation and immediately stop unnecessary and illegal use of electricity especially during the peak-hours [6.00pm -11.00pm].

He said that the customers could get information regarding the load management schedule and its timing from their respective sub-division, central complaint cell or concerned grid station on telephone No: 091-9212010, 091-9212037 or in charge, regional control center, or executive engineer, Munirullah, on telephone No: 091-2040504.

In case of non-provision of information, the customers can contact acting director CM&O, Pesco, Farooq Bangash on telephone No: 091-9211991 and cell No: 0333-9151010 for further information on load management.