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Saturday, June 01, 2013


SC emphasises equal distribution of electricity

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Friday directed Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) and National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) to ensure equal distribution of electricity among domestic and commercial consumers.

The apex court also directed PEPCO and NTDC to make sure that the timing of load-shedding should be equal without any discrimination among big and small cities across the country.

These directions were issued by a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Afzal Chaudhry and Justice

Gulzar Ahmed that resumed hearing of a suo moto notice regarding prolonged load-shedding. During the course of proceedings, the bench asked the managing director PEPCO, who is also holding additional charge of MD NTDC, to present a detailed report regarding the load-shedding from May 21 to 28.

A three-member bench of the apex court directed the managing directors of all the power distribution companies to convene a meeting with the MD NTDC through video conference on June 1, 2013.

MD PEPCO Zargham Ishaq Khan presented a detailed chart of the electricity generation, consumption and shortfall during the said period.

He stated that power generation had been increased in the country as total demand of electricity was 15800 megawatts and generation stood at around 12300 MW. According to him, shortfall of the electricity in the country was only 3500 megawatt.

Zargham further said that they were installing 8, 000 smart meters to check the distribution of power by power distribution companies from June 30 and it would be completed until September this year.

He said that the bench should pass a direction to power distribution companies for equal distribution of electricity among consumers as they were not following their instructions.

He further stated that all the companies were issued directions as per the orders by the apex court regarding indiscriminate load-shedding in all areas of the country.

The chief justice observed that artificial shortfall of electricity was causing hue and cry in the country as people were agitating in the scorching summer.

The Chief Justice remarked that PEPCO was solely responsible for exceeded load-shedding inquiring the maximum production of all the power plants.

Zargham stated that the maximum power production could be upto 17,000 Mega Watts.

The bench questioned during the last hearing MD apprised the court that maximum power generation could be 21,000 to 22,000 MW.

Zargham replied that 21,000 MW was the production written on the machines which were now out-dated or could not reach to their maximum level.

The CJ remarked that during past, there was only one distribution company that was WAPDA and the circumstances were not so bad, while now there were about eight distribution companies and the situation was beyond control.

MD PEPCO stated that out of eight companies, three were not functioning well including Hubco, Narowal and Liberty due to which the crisis prevail.

Later, the court directed MD PEPCO to hold meetings with all the power companies regarding their output and power generation and come out with authentic reply. The court adjourned further hearing till June 10. hasnaat malik/ap


Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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