HYDERABAD: It has become a cliché to say that ‘rain has once again exposed fragility’ of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company’s (Hesco) power distribution system and led to prolonged outages and hiccups in water supply and drainage as what is an apparent anomaly has established itself as a norm thanks to decades of chronically dismal performance of the power utility.

Last month’s seasonal monsoon rain was no exception, with usual complaints of seemingly unending outages in Hesco’s Hyderabad region, which covers almost half of the province, and consequent chaos in the service delivery of civic amenities, prompting even Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to take up public complaints against the Hesco and Sepco with prime minister and federal minister for power.

Perhaps one of the reasons of the utility’s chaotic performance is its lack of a fully-fledged chief executive officer (CEO). A member of Hesco’s board of directors (BoD), Muzaffar Abbasi, currently holds reins of the utility as its acting head. He is to work in this capacity till the appointment of a full-time CEO.

The post has become a game of musical chair between influential contenders. Until recently Rehan Hamid was pleading his case for the lucrative post but he lost the race. Abbasi evaded questions and disconnected the call when this reporter asked him the other day about the CEO’s appointment.

Hesco comes up with the bizarre excuse for shutting down power supply after each rain that it has to keep its 11kV feeders shut for ‘safety reasons’. The unusually long power outages in current monsoon season across Hyderabad region sparked street protests but the power utility remained unfazed.

Abdul Latif Nizamani, chief of Wapda workers union, said that Hesco had not been able to ensure qualitative service to its consumers and called for streamlining the system.

In its routine press releases, Hesco usually put the blame for its ill-performance on power pilferage, which is itself tantamount to a confession of the utility’s failure.

It is common experience of consumers that one can use as many air conditioners as one wants if he pays bribe to low-ranking officials of the utility but if “you are good and honest paymaster then you are bound to suffer”.

“Each time there is rain we are disappointed to find there is no power supply to keep the sewerage system running,” said Hyderabad deputy commissioner, Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, who also holds charge of director general of Hyderabad Development Authority.

In fact Hesco’s pathetic performance is providing a justification to Sindh government for its demand for taking over both the power utilities. Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Sheikh is pushing the idea of the provincial takeover of the power utilities while the CBA suspects foul play behind the plan.

The Sindh government has already established the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority for the purpose. Even federal minister did not rule out the possibility when he stated in May that “it [handover of companies to Sindh government] is a long exercise which has been initiated”.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2023