January 04, 2009	Sunday	Muharram 06, 1430

KARACHI, Jan 3: Despite additional supply of between 610 and 700 megawatts from Wapda on Saturday, the KESC failed to curtail the staggering load-shedding in the metropolis as the utility’s management kept its own power generation capacity at the calibrated low-level to save fuel cost. Coupled with under frequency and voltage fluctuation, the load-shedding of up to 12 hours continued to cause immense hardship to domestic, commercial and industrial consumers alike, besides damaging electrical appliances.

A KESC spokesperson claimed that the load-shedding on Saturday was restricted to the tune of 150 megawatts but insiders put the shortfall at around 400 megawatts.

While Kanupp could not resume adequate supply to the KESC, three generating units of the Bin Qasim plant also remained inoperative, reportedly for want of fuel. The plant’s gas turbines at Korangi were also facing similar problems due to low pressure and insufficient gas supply. KESC’s own generation remained below 450 megawatts.

Meanwhile, insiders say that the utility had removed the under frequency relays from its system that was causing more problem. Pepco sources rejected the KESC claim that under frequency in its system was caused by the problems in the national grid.

KESC consumers from Blocks 13-D, 4, 6 and 7 of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Block 14 of F B Area and adjoining areas, North Karachi, Orangi, New Karachi, Lyari, Garden East, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Shah Faisal, Malir, Saudabad and Memon Goth, PECHS, Defence and Clifton called Dawn to complain that each span of the load-shedding, resorted to by the KESC many times during 24 hours, was extended up to two hours and that power was supplied for less than an hour. In many areas, they said, the duration of supply did not exceed 15 minutes. They said that on lodging a complaint, the KESC people at the complaint centres maintained that the problem was caused by tripping of the over-loaded feeders.

Claim and dues

While the KESC was unable to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to its consumers, it was claiming Rs10 billion subsidy from the government which, according to the KESC, the government had not yet paid to the utility. But at the same time, the KESC withheld Rs18 billion it owed to Wapda for the same period. The utility has also demanded Rs2.5 billion from the government to compensate for its so-called “losses” caused by the interim relief given to consumers by slashing 40 per cent from the increased power tariff.

Business community

Small traders’ organisation has slammed the government for its apathy towards the problems being faced by Karachiites owing to the new KESC management’s policy of operating its plants below par. Mahmood Hamid, whose organisation was planning to hold protest demonstrations against the KESC, claimed that the policy had already caused closure of several thousand small industries in the city and ultimately rendered thousands of people jobless. He was of the view that the power sector was being targeted by the elements who did not want Pakistan to progress and prosper. They wanted to cripple the country economically, he added.

He urged the government to take punitive action against the KESC management for pursuing a policy that was undermining the country’s economy. He bitterly criticised certain elements in the government who were protecting the KESC management.

He said his organisation’s planned protest would include a siege of the utility’s offices to force it to adopt a consumer-friendly policy.

Privatisation criticised

The widespread criticism of the government for privatising the KESC in a dubious manner persisted with stakeholders continuing to maintain that the process had been undertaken by those who had no experience of privatising a utility. They noted that the government and beneficiaries of the KESC privatisation had been ignoring the power consumers’ agony and even street protests over the issue. They pointed out that heavy investment, as committed by the private owners of the utility, was badly needed to overcome the persisting power crisis in the city. The investment was supposed to be made for the expansion, augmentation and improvement of KESC’s generation, transmission and distribution network.

Power consumers believe that the coming summer will be worse as the KESC had failed to bring about any remarkable improvement in the network so far.

Disconnection drive

The KESC on Saturday discontinued power supply to several thousand consumers on account of their default on payment of monthly electricity bills. Most of the affected consumers claimed that they were not served any notice in advance.