HYDERABAD, May 27: The civil society, conscientious people, and media should help the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) in controlling power theft and in recovery of dues as this will help in providing better services, said its chief Guftar Ahmed Anjum.

The outstanding amount against consumers stands at around Rs23,441 million, he said at ‘meet the press program’ held at the Hyderabad Press Club, on Tuesday. Hesco being a commercial utility was unable to bear this burden, he added.

Domestic consumers owe Rs13,838 million, provincial government departments Rs9,052 million, and federal government departments Rs581 million to the utility, he said while giving the break-up.

Number of defaulters whose power supply had been permanently disconnected were 298,667 with Rs4,725.75 million outstanding, he said and added that Hesco network was spread throughout Sindh up to the borders of Punjab, Balochistan and India.

He said defaulters whose supply was disconnected five years ago can get their connection restored on payment of 50 per cent dues while the rest will be waived off.

Hesco chief said some 1,379 villages had been provided power at the cost of Rs1,189.536 million out of the targeted 2,000 with work being done on another 975 villages.

Hesco needed 1,650-1,686MW while situation improved after recent rains but still it faced shortage of 288MW for which it was resorting to load management of up to six to eight hours daily.

Hesco chief asked the consumers to use energy savers and avoid unnecessary usage of air-conditioners, washing machines, and electric irons while power to billboards had been disconnected and 50 per cent street lights switched off. Marriage halls had also been directed to switch off lights at night, he said.

Tube-well consumers had been asked to begin their operations after 10pm at reduced per unit rates, he said adding that all business centres will now close by 9pm.

To overcome the deficit, he said company had signed agreements to purchase two mega watt electricity from private producer M/s Haji Mohammad Ismail and Co Industries and 3.2 mega watts from Anud Textile Mills. He said the company was also in contact with nine other private producers