Nepra directs CEOs Discos to appear for loadshedding

Aftab Ahmed

Islamabad: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has taken action against massive electricity load shedding and directed Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all power distribution companies (Discos), including KE, to appear on Friday.

The summer season has approached, resulting in excessive electricity load shedding across the country.

The regulator has taken robust notice of load shedding and directed CEOs of power firms to appear before the authority on Friday to justify prolonged load shedding.

In a statement, National Electric Power Regulator Authority (Nepra) has taken serious notice of excessive load shedding faced by the Consumers throughout Pakistan, due to which the public is suffering heavily in the simmering heat.

In a statement, the power regulator said that all the power distribution companies (DISCOs), including KE, are obligated to provide uninterrupted and reliable power supply to the consumers under the relevant provisions of their licenses.

Therefore, to explore the actual reasons and address the same, NEPRA Authority has directed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all DISCOs and KE to appear before it on Friday (June 11). They will appraise the reasons of actual causes of load shedding in Pakistan and remedial measures taken by them to eliminate the excessive load-shedding.

According to the power division, the electricity demand was 24100 MW against electricity generation of 22600MW, facing a shortfall of 1500 MW.

However, the energy ministry said it was a temporary shortfall due as a hydel generation had dropped by 3000 MW due to less flow of waters from dams. The spokesperson apologized for temporary load shedding.

At present, there is a heatwave across the country. Therefore, people are criticizing the government for prolonged power outages that have added their miseries.

However, in a statement, the Power division has apologized and said that it was temporary load shedding due to minor release of water from dams.

Now, Nepra will conduct a hearing on Friday and seek a response from the chief executive officers of power distribution companies (Discos) over prolonged power outages.