LAHORE: As electricity shortfall surges to 3,400MW on Sunday, the distribution companies (DISCOs) have resorted to implement a six-to-ten-hour loadshedding schedule across the country.

According to a report of the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), the total power generation and demand on Sunday (at 12:30pm) was 14,000MW and 17,400MW, respectively, that forced the DISCOs to carry out 6 to 10 hours loadshedding. “The generation includes 5,240MW, 2,070MW and 6,690MW received by the national grid through hydel, thermal and IPPs (Independent Power Producers), respectively,” the report added.

Meanwhile, people in major cities of the country, mainly Lahore, continued facing massive loadshedding, besides problems like tripping and low voltage with fluctuation.

To save their appliances from the impact of low voltage and power fluctuations, many in Lahore have no other option but to buy stabilizers.

“Since our air-conditioner was not working under these conditions, we recently purchased a power stabiliser,” says Imran, a resident of Johar Town.

According to the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) Chief Executive Officer Rao Zameerud Din, the loadshedding in the city has been reduced to six hours due to effective monitoring of the grid stations’ operations.

“We have devised an effective monitoring mechanism under which everything, right from the quota of megawatts received from the national grid through NTDC to their distribution through grid stations is being watched. This has caused reduction in loadshedding,” he claimed while talking to Dawn.

He claimed the loadshedding would be further reduced in the coming days if the pre-monsoon rains started as predicted. He said at present most of the complaints being received by Lesco field offices were related to transformers’ breakdown or low voltage and not the loadshedding.

“The people, as far as I have observed, know about loadshedding hours and manage their routines accordingly. But they become irritated when they have to face power suspension due to breakdown of transformers or some other equipment,” he added.

He said complaint centre officials had been strictly told to immediately respond to such complaints to avoid public wrath. He said low-voltage issues persisted due to technical problems in power supply to Lesco-owned grid stations through the NTDC- owned 220 transmission lines.

“The efforts were underway to resolve such issues, and soon this problem will be solved,” he said.

The CEO said water and power federal secretary Nargis Sethi had focused on Lesco with a view to improve the system. “She is paying visits (to Lesco headquarters) on alternate days. Besides, she also remains in contact with the Lesco top management from Islamabad through video conference daily,” he added.

He appealed to the consumers to help Lesco in improving the system by contacting its top officials directly in this regard.

Meanwhile, a Lahore Development Authority spokesman in a statement said the electricity would remain suspended on June 16 (Today) from 8:00am to 2:00pm at Islamiaya Park, Poonch Road, Samanabad, Bahawalpur Road, Rahat Park, New Mozang, Rasool Park, GOR-II and adjoining localities due to shifting of high tension electric supply lines in connection with construction of a road along Cantonment drain from LOS, Ferozepur Road to Multan Road.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2014