KARACHI, May 13: As Karachiites endured the long heatwave amid frequent power breakdowns, the KESC has refused to accept responsibility and shifted the onus on Wapda and Sui Gas for their plight.

Amid criticism of the KESC for its alleged failure in improving the 11kv distribution system and checking power theft and other kinds of pilferage, the corporation says that a record rise in the demand for electricity had put the system under pressure and one of its circuits connecting it with Wapda had to be closed as it needed immediate repairs.

It may be pointed out that not a single day passed when power consumers from across the city complained of frequent and prolonged power outages in scorching heat.

While the KESC is ‘compelled’ to enhance the tariff every now and then to fulfil demands of international donors, it has not bothered to provide relief to the consumers to whom it sends inflated bills every month.

The declining performance of the utility and the rising cost of its ‘service’ has not only made life of the common man miserable, it is also making local industrial products costlier and uncompetitive.

The utility maintains that one of the circuits linking KESC with Wapda at Jamshoro needed immediate repairs and maintenance to avoid a major power breakdown.

On Tuesday, Wapda shut down its circuit for overhauling owing to which the KESC could not avail maximum of 300mw from one circuit. Besides, the gas turbines at Site and Korangi also could not work due to low gas pressure which resulted in another shortfall of 160mw. Thus it had to resort to loadshedding, suspending power supply for 30 to 60 minutes, on rotational basis at various grid stations.

The University of Karachi has imported 18 diesel generators of 600 kilowatts to overcome the problem of frequent power breakdowns, adds APP.

According to a KU spokesman, the move was aimed at saving precious equipment at the campus.

The generators would help provide alternate power to the faculty of science and enable students to undertake academic and research work without any difficulty.