By Asim Hussain
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Power on Wednesday held here at Parliament House, under the Chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz.
The meeting was attended by Senators Poonjo Bheel, Sherry Rehman, Syed Shibli Faraz, Syed Kazim ali Shah, Haji Hiidayatullah Khan and senior management from the Ministry/relevant departments.
The Secretary of the Power Division informed the committee that the repayment of circular debt has been linked to the already implemented debt servicing surcharge and assured that no additional burden would be imposed on consumers. He added that the government has attempted to control the increase in circular debt by reducing electricity subsidies.
Senator Mohsin Aziz questioned that despite surplus electricity availability in the country, why is load shedding still being carried out. The Secretary Power told the committee that Power losses have been reduced and efficiency has been improved.
The Load shedding is being implemented in areas with high electricity theft and we are trying to bring technology down to the transformer level to curb electricity theft.
K-Electric officials briefed the committee that they have total 2,100 feeders out of which load shedding does not occur on 70% of these feeders.
However, approximately 30% of the feeders experience load shedding due to high rates of electricity theft in those areas.
Moreover, they added that consumer electricity bills have been divided into installments to facilitate payments.
The Chairman Committee observed that the slab system for electricity units is very strict and proposed that it should be evaluated based on the annual average.
The Secretary Power Division informed the committee that 58% of their consumers fall under the “protected” category. He added that 58% of Pakistan’s population receives electricity at a rate of Rs. 10 per unit. The Secretary further stated that, with approval from international financial institutions, the government is set to provide Rs. 250 billion in subsidies. He also highlighted the introduction of a scheme allowing consumers to submit their own meter readings. So far, 500,000 users have downloaded the app, and around 250,000 have registered themselves on the platform.
The Chief Executive Officer, HAZECO also briefed the Committee on the estimated bills (without reading) issue to the residents of Sub-Division Lora Chowk and fault in the feeder namely Bandi Sher Khan of the said sub-division on daily basis and completion of ELR works release Nos. 46241, 51911 and 51910.
