KESC seems to be bearing the brunt these days and all possible proclamations to its aid have come to a naught. Actually, the service of any particular utility is gauged by the efficacy of the product it offers. Thus in case of electricity, the customer makes up its opinion about the efficiencies of Wapda or the KESC from the level of stability of the latter’s supply. As a consequence, all other professional indicators of efficiency get simply ignored.
On the other hand, the utilities are facing great difficulties in their operations. The assault on these service providers is from all sides including, according to some experts, from the government and surely from the customers.
Is it possible that both— the utility and the customer— could ever be in an adversarial role and that conduct of one could have a very damaging effect on the other.
We would discuss the obligations of the customers towards the utilities and the effect of in-discipline on the former’s part on the efficiency of the later. This attains more significance when we see that the country is facing a revolution in consumerism that knows no bounds. The consumerism translates into mega-use of electrical and allied appliances and an unprecedented loading of the power system of Wapda and the KESC.
Wapda is facing a load growth of upwards of 15 per cent on the average- some times it also reached above 21 per cent (in the period April- June, 2004). This has played havoc and now the customers face a huge crunch in shape of an average supply position.
The question that agitates is as to why Wapda was not able to plan for and then cater for the growing demand. Whether there is something amiss at the utility or there are some other issues that need to be tackled.
There is also a need to understand the various rules and regulations, the law and other enactments and the norms which are generally followed in order to get connected to the utility’s mains and then be able to remain so.
Presently, the ancient Electricity Act of 1910 (with up-to-date amendments) lies redundant with Nepra Act of 1996 taking over all precedence. However, due to various reasons there seems to be no real keeper of the rules ruling the roost.
The earlier electricity inspectors are dormant and Nepra managers are far away from the action in the field. GoP’s latest edict to allow self-generation by ndustrialists is another wedge that may rent the nascent Nepra Act asunder. But whatever the situation be, the prospective electricity customer has to apply for a specific load, which makes up the basis of any planning by the power planners of Wapda and the KESC.
The possible applications for extension to already sanctioned loads additionally allow the planners to add up to the expected or future loads. Thus, it is the information provided by the new applicants alone that form the basis for laying out of basic transmission and distribution infrastructures, off course, while adding up a little/ small level for illegal extensions or loading due to faults etc. As such in case any other kind of things happen, the power infrastructure may out be able to cope up with it.
We would be much wiser if we try to understand what exactly are the obligations of the customer, after fulfilment of which the utility can be asked to complete it’s part of the agreement. We see that the customer would have to declare his actual and true load and then remain within that limit (with no extension without information and acceptance from the utility), arrange for standard wiring, use equipment conforming to a minimum level of standards, ensure that load side faults get cleared at his premises and not travel to be eventually cleared at the utility mains, abide by all other conditions of supply- accepted and signed at the time of getting the connection/ facility of electricity, conserve and arrange for a judicious use of electricity supply and lastly pay for the usage.
What is actually happening and what is their impact. The electricity customer, like pedestrians of even metropolises like Karachi, considers the roads to be theirs alone and would be seen criss-crossing at will. The roads here are the electricity cables, lines and transformers, and which all are under attack.
Coupled with the present consumerism and easy availability of power intensive appliances, the customers burden the power system to a very dangerous limit, which as a first manifests itself through instability and thereafter through outright disruptions.
In-stability leads to low voltage, fluctuation, drop in frequency and also a tainted supply which can be murderous for all that is electronic. As the damage does not end just here, it all goes and fast de-rates the power system making it even more susceptible to failure and in extension, it all leads to more breakdowns and disruptions.
Any extra burden on the power system would, at the least, lead to disruptions and as this extra burden is solely due to the erring electricity customer, how can the utility be held responsible for the disruptions.
The law requires the submission of something known as the test report, which for bigger loads has to be vetted/ approved by the provincial electric inspectors. This pre-requisite to connecting-up to the electricity mains was unfortunately done away with by Wapda in 1999.
The institution of the test-report/ wiring contractors has to be strengthened and the test report made a pre-requisite again. It would discipline the errant customer. The electricity utility would also ensure that it becomes serious about tackling the extension of load cases through an extra-load surcharge in case the burden can be technically absorbed; otherwise an immediate disconnection on account of breach of contract.
Furthermore, such equipment as sealable circuit breakers can be provided/installed at all customer premises (specially domestic ones) which would operate and disconnect and thus isolate the extra/ illegal loads from the power system. Thereafter permanent removal of the offending load can take place. The situation at industrial sites can be monitored through actual visits. The inspections would also pinpoint sub-standard wiring, the wrong kind of installed equipment and appliances and the lack of fault clearing apparatuses.
All utilities still operate in the public sector with control by the government. This position may have some negative and unwanted attributes in the eyes of the detractors and may also inhibit healthy competition, but fact remains that the utility is never on the look-out for short cuts or to short change the customer (This is unlike the wholly private cement sector which is ripping-off the people with the MCA and SECP just mere spectators). As a consequence, if the customer fulfils its’ side of the bargain it would be extremely easy for the utility to arrange for a standard and un-interrupted supply. Primarily, it is the level of customer discipline that makes or breaks a utility and its product.
Also, imagine a utility with totally disciplined customers and one would see a profitable entity on the cards.