PESHAWAR, Jan 18: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has said that increase in consumption of electricity over the past few days because of low temperature and shortage of gas has put its distribution network under tremendous pressure.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday, the company stated that its distribution network had got overloaded because of increase in consumption of power in the wake of shortage of gas.

The shortage of natural gas had given rise to increased demand for electricity during the past few days, rendering the power distribution network non-functional as overloading led to its tripping, it added.

"Pesco's distribution network is under extreme pressure because a large number of people have started using electricity-based geysers and heaters," the press release said, adding that 'this situation has caused power breakdowns and tripping of its distribution system on various occasions'.

The Pesco spokesman claimed that no load shedding was being carried out in any part of the province. He said that power disruptions and suspension in different parts of the province were the result of breaking down of Pesco's distribution system due to rise in power consumption.