THIS refers to prolonged and unabated power breakdowns and unscheduled loadshedding by K-Electric. This has been giving the people of Karachi sleepless nights since the rain catastrophe in August.

The utility service has gone from bad to worse since the switchover from KESC to KE. Word ‘loadshedding’ is being misinterpreted as ‘load management’ by KE to hide its incompetence and indifference. It should, in fact, be called ‘power cut’.

Electricity is one of the necessities of life. But KE has been depriving the people of Karachi of this basic necessity on one pretext or the other.

KE, in fact, believes in anti-consumer policies, ignoring the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), the ministry concerned and even the court.

Be it upgrading infrastructure, arranging required material to generate power without shortfall, uninterrupted distribution, and maintaining regular supply, KE has failed to deliver.

While KE has been ‘cutting off’ power supply for about more than 12 hours on a daily basis, it has been shifting responsibility on others without caring for consumers.

A sudden power cut-off damages electric appliances such as compressors, light bulbs, television, air-conditioners, etc., causing great financial loses to consumers.

By these power cuts, KE has been pushing citizens to medieval times, as they have been compelled to use kerosene oil for illumination and clay pots to store and keep water cool.

Many citizens cannot afford electric generators. On the other hand, KE increases the price of electricity per unit regularly and often sends excessive bills.

KE is under obligation to reimburse its customers for all these expenditures. If KE fails to improve its service, it should be handed over to a consumer-friendly electricity provider.

A.Malik
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2020