LAHORE: Various parts of Lahore and adjoining districts faced forced outages for hours after the National Transmission Despatch Company’s 220kV Kala Shah Kaku-Gatti circuit (grid station and transmission line) overloaded on peak hours afternoon, forcing the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) to shed the load to reduce burden on the system and avoid brownouts and ensuing cascading effects on other lines.

In addition to the forced load management, parts of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur and Okara continued facing loadshedding on high loss feeders.

There are also reports of brownouts in the areas of Manga Mandi, Raiwind and some other areas.

“The situation is the worst in Manga Mandi, as we are receiving 100kW power instead of 220kW, and in this situation how can we operate our home appliances,” Saeed Ikram, of Manga Mandi, told Dawn.

“Besides this, we are also facing loadshedding for hours daily. Why is it happening? We don’t know though we are paying our bills regularly.”

A consumer from a Kasur rural area said they were facing loadshedding for 12 to 16 hours daily.

“It looks that the government has diverted electricity supply towards urban areas, as we are living without light for almost 16 hours daily,” he complained.

According to a Lesco official, the company observed forced loadshedding on Friday in Shahdara, Sheikhupura, Ferozewala and Kala Shah Kaku.

“We were informed in afternoon that the 220kV Kala Shah Kaku-Gatti circuit appeared to be overloaded that can lead to tripping and cascading effects. So we started shedding the load in Shahdara, Muridke, Kala Shah Kaku. And finally we succeeded to save the system from tripping,” the official, who requested anonymity, told Dawn.

While rejecting the reports related to tripping in the areas of Johar Town, Township, Raiwind, Manga Mandi and some other places, the official said it might happen due to fault in feeders. “Tripping, fluctuation and other system constraints are the problems of the past and as the present system has been upgraded,” he said.

He added that there was no loadshedding in all service areas of Lesco except those falling under the high loss feeders. Lesco is carrying out loadshedding on 500 high loss feeders. “Despite of facing losses (non-payment of bills, power theft), we are providing electricity to the consumers in Sehr and Aftar and other timings, he said.

“Therefore, loadshedding in the areas of all such feeders would continue under a policy matter.”

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018