NTDC can’t gauge power supply by Discos to users

SC bench urges NTDC to overcome technical difficulties.

ISLAMABAD:

The National Transmission and Distribution Company (NTDC) said on Friday that it has no system to gauge the supply of electricity to consumers by the distribution companies (Discos) or to establish the quantum of power cuts in any part of the country.

“There is no visibility at the centre to monitor distribution of the electricity,” Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Managing Director Zargham Ishaq Khan told a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Zargham Ishaq, however, hastened to add that by the end of June as many as 8,000 smart meters will be fitted on to the outgoing electricity feeders in the grid stations to put in place an efficient monitoring system.

The bench also comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed had taken serious notice of the lack of implementation of May 21 orders of the Supreme Court that asked for improving electricity generation and its equitable distribution to domestic and industrial consumers.



“Why there is a hue and cry all over the country and why are people out on the road protesting against load-shedding,” the chief justice asked Zargham Khan adding that everyone including those in high offices were equal before the law under Article 25 of the Constitution.

Justice Chaudhry said that the Pepco MD should step down if he was not fulfilling his duties.

Justice Gulzar Ahmed remarked that load-shedding is accepted by the people as a phenomenon but there is no effort on part of the generation companies to get rid of it.

The Supreme Court wants on-ground results, Justice Ahmed said. “The present hearing is not an exercise to note down NTDC’s difficulties. Difficulties may be there, but you as an expert and a technical person have to overcome the same.”

Communication gap

In its order the court noted that because of lack of communication between the NTDC and Discos, Zargham Khan was facing problems and ordered him to convene a meeting through a video conference on June 1 with the Discos.

And after meeting with the stakeholders namely managing directors of the Discos, Indus River System Authority (Irsa) chairman Asjid Imtiaz as well as Water and Power Secretary Anwar Ahmed Khan, a joint statement is to be prepared ensuring implementation of the May 21 order..

The joint statement will be submitted in the office of the apex court’s registrar positively by Saturday.

The court also made it clear to all the managing directors of Discos that they all are bound by May 21 order which should be implemented without any excuse.

On May 21,  around 10,530MW of electricity was produced with a shortfall of 3,800MW, explained Zargham Khan.

Though the generation capacity in the country was 20,000MW, the current dependable electricity generation is around 16,000 to 18,000 MW, Zargham Khan informed the court.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2013.