LAHORE, June 24: Friday was another day of frequent power outages, voltage fluctuations and trippings, with Lesco staff persisting with usual excuse of overloading of system although mercury came down by almost four degrees Celcius.

There were more than 500 trippings, a distinction that Lesco normally attaches to holidays when people take to rooftops for flying kites. On normal days, the trippings usually do not go beyond 200.

Lesco officials maintain that with a massive overload — almost 20 per cent — due to hot weather, there was not much the company could do about it.

“Situation will improve once the mercury starts sliding,” they added.

Consumers however do not buy the official stand. “At least the Lesco should not be granting prizes to its staff for providing uninterrupted power supply to people,” says a consumer. “That is like adding insult to injury. On the one hand, people are suffering worst kind of power failures and, on the other, the company chief is granting cash prizes to his staff for efficiency and ensuring continued power supply to people.