NAWABSHAH, March 18: Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) is facing shortfall of 200 megawatts which results in load-shedding, said Chief Executive Guftar Ahmed Anjum. He directed all superintending engineers to refrain from unannounced load-shedding and warned of action in case of non-compliance.

The country was facing energy crisis and on major shortfall power companies receive directives from Islamabad to suspend power supply to consumers for protecting the system from collapsing, he said adding this was the reason unannounced load-shedding takes place with hopes that in coming months, rainfall and melting of ice may help reduce the pressure. He said about Rs21 billion including Rs13.6 billion from private and Rs7.8 billion from government departments were receivable. He further informed that 1,107 villages had been electrified costing Rs935 million while work on 1,037 others was underway.

Announcing incentive for consumers enduring disconnection for five years or more, he said the company would waive off 50 per cent bill if consumers get their connections restored on payment of remaining 50 per cent. He said line losses had been reduced from 32.8 per cent to 31.47 per cent during last couple of months but were still much as compared to other companies.

He said Dadu, Naushahro Feroze and Khairpur were at the top in power thefts with the Executive Engineer demoted and eight SDOs suspended for failure to control the losses.

He said development work costing Rs200 million was completed while work of Rs485 million more would end by June 2008. He further said that Rs928 million had been kept for construction of new grid stations and augmentations of lines.

The CE stressed the need to conserve energy and said 50 per cent street lights and billboards will remain closed during peak hours. He said the company had distributed 5,000 energy savers to hospitals and consumers.

He directed the staff to visit places and motivate consumers to use power only where essential. Superintending Engineer Nawabshah Circle Nazeer Ahmed Khyber, Executive Engineer Najamuddin Abro, Divisional Chairman Hydro Electric Labour Union Fazal Shaikh and other officials were also present.