KARACHI, May 7: The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation fails to explain the cause of frequent cable faults in its transmission and distribution system.

Consumers calling from different localities wondered why the power utility could not take long-term measures to ensure smooth distribution of power.

Calling from Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Block 15, one Syed Basit Hassan said that the locality had experienced a power breakdown at around 3am the previous night. “I called the regional complaint centre, at its phone number, 8117884, many times but nobody answered the phone. Then I called the centralized complaint centre at 118. One of the telephone attendants told me that the power fault would be removed after a lapse of 19 hours. Another said that the fault would be fixed after a lapse of 14 hours. Why does it take so long for the KESC to remove a cable fault?” he wondered.

He added that in the said locality the cable faults occurred at least three times a week. “The KESC engineers must be aware of the fact that removing a cable fault is a time consuming process which inconveniences consumers a lot. Why can’t it, then, take preventive measures to ensure that cable faults do not recur frequently?” he said.

Calling from Federal B Area, Block 12, a resident said that in the locality a fault had occurred when the shift of staff at work at the regional complaint centre was to end within two hours. “Some locals drove to the regional complaint centre only to discover that the fault-rectification team was waiting for its shift to end so that the next shift could finish the job in the area. When some residents said that in two hours they (officials) could rectify the fault easily they said that finding a cable fault was a time consuming process and if they continued to work on the fault even after the end of the shift they would not be paid overtime. They naturally chose to while away the two hours while we suffered,” he recalled.

KESC officials told Dawn that the areas that had suffered long spells of power breakdown included Defence, North Karachi, Malir, Landhi, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Federal B Area, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Nazimabad, New Karachi, North Nazimabad and Korangi.

A housewife calling Dawn from PECHS, Block 6, said that electric supply to her locality with fluctuating voltage was a regular feature, especially during the ongoing heat wave. “Foodstuff goes bad early in summer. I cannot keep my refrigerator on because the voltage keeps fluctuating, which is bad for electrical appliances.”