KARACHI, April 2: Consumers using gas-based power generating units have been asked to deposit a minimum of Rs1,200 for a one kva unit for regularising their gas load.

The amount varies, and increases with the size of the generator.

It would save them form being penalised by the Sui Southern Gas Company.

The SSGC discourages use of diesel- and petrol-based generators on gas without regularisation of extra load and has also been imposing penalties on consumers.

Frequent power breakdowns have forced many people to purchase power-generating units. These generators either use petrol or diesel or gas.

However, after an increase in petrol and diesel rates, people have increasingly started using gas-based generators.

A spokesman for the SSGC said that the company had initiated an awareness drive, asking consumers to regularise their gas-load, if they are using gas for power generation.

He said without sanctioning the proper gas-load, use of gas-based power generating machines is illegal, and consumers have off and on been warned of a legal action for failing to regularise their gas-load.

Even many consumers were sent notices, he said, but did not give details about the number of consumers who were sent such notices.

“The SSGC knows about the people running generators on gas as the company’s vigilance department has such details,” the spokesman added.

Another SSGC official said that the company charges only Rs 1,000 per kva as security deposit and Rs250 for meter and regulator.

He said that with heavy use of gas, many consumers were seen complaining about low gas pressure in their areas.

A consumer, who asked not to be named, said there was no other option with the consumers suffering from load-shedding, but to use gas owing to increasing petrol and diesel prices.

On the contrary, rush of buyers at the generators market subsided during the last three days owing to some decrease in the timing of load-shedding.

Earlier, there used to be breakdowns of six to eight hours daily till last week, said a consumer.

“Generators sale depends heavily on load-shedding hours,” said Karachi Generator Importers Group president Sikandar Shahzada.

He said currently there had been only a 25 per cent business after some improvement in power supply situation.

He said a majority of the buyers purchase gas-kits at Rs1,000 to 1,500 for running their machines on natural gas to offset the impact of rising diesel and petrol prices.

Sikandar said prices of generators have increased by 10 per cent as compared to last year’s prices owing to hike in the Chinese market by 15-22 per cent and in Japan by 12-15 per cent.

Besides, the Customs have increased the valuation rate by $10-15 per KVA on generators.

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, generator imports surged by 35 per cent to $640 million in July-February 2007-2008 from $475 million in the corresponding period of last fiscal year.

If power supply remains normal between May and July, generator sales may not pick up. But the situation may change, if load-shedding intensifies in the coming months, he said.