PESHAWAR, Dec 8: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) is applying a new methodology to counter excessive power consumption during peak hours by installing special meters with high tariff.

The public utility has recently issued 1653 Time of Use (TOU) meters to its field offices for installation to the connection with 5kw load, said an official communication addressed to all the administrative heads of provincial department.

The TOU, said the letter, is the solution of all problems including tariff increase and load shedding because in peak hours excessive consumption produce costly electricity that contributes to the increase in tariff.

TOU meters have been proposed to discourage and reduce the consumption of electricity in peak hours to save high cost of generation, it mentioned.

The decision of installing TOU meters was taken on Feb 24 and the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) was supposed to install it on the entire connections up to 20kw load by June this year. But it could not fulfil the target within stipulated time period.

However, in the new tariff proposed on Sept 5, TOU meters have been proposed to be installed on 5kw load that means most of the power connections including three phase, industries, tubewells, hospitals etc will be giving TOU meters.

On the other hand, the raise in tariff has also been made twice since March this year that is on very high side for peak hour’s consumption, as it ranges from 250 per cent and in off peak hours 90 per cent and 60 per cent.

The new peak hour’s tariff, said the letter, will be effective from the day of installation of TOU meters by the Pesco.

The heads of departments, through the letter, has been warned that operating irrigation and water supply tube wells, lift irrigation schemes and other connection with TOU meters during peak hours will result increase in billing on higher tariff resulting in extra financial burden on provincial kitty.

To save the provincial government from extra financial burden due to peak hour’s operation, the departments, in the letter, have been advised to adjust the pumping hours in the off peak 20 hours of the day.