LAHORE: High electricity demand has overloaded the power distribution system, causing fluctuation, low voltage, breakdown of transformers and burning of wires / cables in various parts of the city.

There are complaints of loss of home appliances of consumers due to erratic power supply, Dawn has learnt.

“We have been facing voltage problem for the last two weeks or so and the situation has exacerbated to such an extent that our deep freezer recently went out of order due to low voltage and fluctuation. Repeated complaints to the authorities concerned have not worked and nobody seems to be listening,” Shuja Afzal Khan, a resident of Faisal Town’s HBFC area, told Dawn on Tuesday.

“People in the neighbourhood have also contacted the area SDO but no one is paying heed to the acute problem,” he added.

Erratic supply has damaged home appliances

According to another consumer, Muhammad Yaqoob, a resident of Ichhra, the brownouts have become a routine in the area due to shortage of transformers or upgradation of the system.

“We have only one 200kV transformer that is providing electricity to 200 houses. This results in voltage much below the standard 220 and home appliances at many places have been damaged,” he deplored.

A resident of Kotha Pind (Faisal Town) complained about eight-hour long power failure in his area on Tuesday.

“When I complained, the official on duty told me about some technical issues at the respective grid station,” Anwar told this reporter.

An official source said more than 50 per cent of the transformers were overloaded these days due to increased demand and load. “Though the company replaced many transformers, it is still facing the overloading issue at a number of transformers,” he added.

Lesco CEO could not be contacted despite repeated attempts by this reporter.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2021