LAHORE: Urban and rural areas across the country faced six to seven hours of loadshedding on Tuesday with a slight decline of 50MW in the total power shortfall.

There were reports of low voltage, fluctuation and tripping in densely populated commercial and residential localities of mega cities, including Lahore. Therefore, National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) authorities claim power distribution companies (Discos) were resorting to four to six hours of loadshedding.

“Total national power generation on Tuesday was 12,350MW, which included 4,630MW, 1,630MW and 6,100MW received through hydel, thermal and independent power producers, respectively. In addition, 13MW were added to the national grid through wind generation,” said an NTDC spokesman. The total demand was 14,400MW and shortfall 2,050MW, forcing the Discos to implement a four to six hours power shutdown schedule, he added.

Meanwhile, Lahore and adjoining districts of Kasur, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib and Okara continued facing a shortfall of about 9,00MW. According to officials, the total electricity demand of Lahore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Lesco) was 3,126MW on an average, whereas it was provided 2,234MW by the NTDC on Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2014