Pakistan

No respite in loadshedding, billing for Karachi

Ppi May 23, 2010

KARACHI: Loadshedding of three to four hours and inflated electricity bills have plagued customers of the KESC.

With the rise in heat and humidity, millions of Karachiites are facing immense problems due to loadshedding.

Load shedding is not only affecting routine daily life but is also seriously affecting the livelihood of people, small and large businesses, as well as the industrial sector.

Sources claim KESC has adequate power generation capacity to cater to the needs of Karachi, but the company has resorted to loadshedding in order to reduce the cost of buying furnace oil to run power generation units at full capacity.

Citizens have also strongly criticized KESC for sending them inflated average bills instead of issuing bills as per actual meter reading.

They said they also have to pay collection charges, which is an unfair system as bill collection is the responsibility of the utility company and not the consumers. They said the other utility companies like the SSGC do not send their bills on average basis, but strictly follow the meter reading. These companies also do not shift the burden of collection charges to their customers.

Consumers say when they do not use electricity for 3 to 6 hours daily due to loadshedding and power outages, their monthly bills should be reduced and not enhanced.

The citizens have requested the government, consumer rights bodies, pro-people political parties, and judiciary to take notice of the injustices meted out to them in the shape of average billing, regular load shedding and extortion of collections charges.

COMMENTS (7)

Zubair | 14 years ago | Reply Just to get some facts straight. Furnace oil costs Rs.19/unit whereas electricity is sold at an average of Rs.7/unit. If all of KESC's generating units operate (many on furnace oil) the company might go bankrupt and I am sure that is in no one's favour. The private management of KESC has already invested $450 million starting Sep. 2008. Other projects worth more than $500 million are ongoing. Thisd info is publically available on web sites and newspapers. Please go and live in Punjab for a month, bear the 10 to 12 hours of un-announced loadshedding and you will realize why KESC is better off in the private sector

Nabeel | Create Your First Website | 14 years ago | Reply @Tanveer I absolutely agree with you. In 21st century when other nations are doing well in scientific inventions, we Pakistanis have to still deal with load shedding/electricity, which is a basic necessity. This is destroying the business sector in Pakistan (are we sure its not a conspiracy?). The thing which most bugs me and which I hate the most is that why is KESC getting away with all this? It is not even a defend able problem, they are saving furnace oil and not upgrading their years old system!

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PERVAIZ | 14 years ago | Reply I am a resident of soldier bazaar , Karachi .I read some where that give the bad name to dog and hang it . same apply to us . It is KESC official statement that in whole city load shading of 3 hours other than those feeder where the stolen ratio of electricity is high and 4 and ½ hours of load shading for these feeder . Mean KESC first give us the name of “ theft “ and then do what they want .Also last 3 hours of this load shading is in night hour , believe me it is almost paralyses our life in night hours . My area parsi colony is purely a residential area . and more than half of area still on schedule of 3 hour . How it is possible that same locality same area and half is stealing and half is not .A hospital Anklesaria eve hospital on back side of our building is also suffering from load shading of 4 and ½ hours .According to a statistic 40 % of electricity of Karachi is stealing and common consumer paying these 40% in their bills . And now kesc putting another burden in the name of theft . Every body know theft mafia they have many connection and it only disturb common people . and I as common citizen invite kesc to do a strong operation against theft mafia which may increase the revenue and reduce the consummation.. Basic emphasis of Energy conference was held on a 23rd April 24, 2010 is that “ Save the energy and distribute load shading equally , but Kesc is working against the order of honorable PM of Pakistan .

Plesed | 14 years ago | Reply No, it not that, what about all those people who do not pay, but uses much more than the payee does in a month. Secondly, why does the Board of Directors in failed or failing companies Governement or Non pay the managing director Or what Mus-- took over C.E instead M.L.A. C.E.Os get in money, N.B.P, P.S.O State life, these are the big companies along with O.G.D.C. are been paid million of millions Rs. /month. K.E.S.C is the same. Governments are the main source of inflation in the country(s(ies)). Get rid of the army or is it to big to fail and Government out of people lives. the countries will just work fine. F.F.B.L should not be owned by the army but by a fair process in which private people are allowed to own and run what-ever company. Sorry guys that include the K.E.S.C

Tanveer Khadim | 14 years ago | Reply In 21st century when other nations are doing well in scientific inventions, we Pakistanis are living with the monster of loadshedding. No matter is it summer or winter, elctricity interruption is part of our daily routine. This interruption has caused many problems in every walk of life, it may be the hospitals or shops or offices or schools, all are blessed with it. Every year Govt claims to overcome this but unfortunately long spells of power breakdowns is our fate. The problem with KESC is quite clear, KESC is not investing to enhance its yeras old system. Although the new private mangement of KESC claimed to improve the situation but again all fake claims. Govt should take notice of KESC to handle the situation of power outages in Karachi, Govt should ask KESC to clearify its position. Otherwise these long spells of power failures would remain destiny of Krachiites.

Syed A. Mateen | 14 years ago | Reply I was watching a local TV channel in which Prime Minister Gilani has that it will take ten long years to end the energy crises from the country. Every body knows that at the end of the tenth year Prime Minister Gilani will not remain Prime Minister of Pakistan. Prime Minister has very easily shifted his responsibility on the shoulder of a person who would become Prime Minister after ten long years. I am unable to understand that after KESC have be privatized what contribution KESC has made after its privatization? If the present management of KESC cannot end the load-shedding from the country when why government is not taking back KESC from the private management? There is no legitimate reason that KESC should be left alone? Why should people pay more bills to KESC when during most of day and night time KESC shut down electricity? Are we paying Gunda Tax to KESC?

Nabeel | Create Your First Website | 14 years ago | Reply "Sources claim KESC has adequate power generation capacity to cater to the needs of Karachi, but the company has resorted to loadshedding in order to reduce the cost of buying furnace oil to run power generation units at full capacity." I was telling my family the exact same thing today!!! This is absolutely true!! Loadshedding is ARTIFICIAL!!! Only government can summon KESC management and hold it accountable! Government is acting naive!! They should know that KESC has the capacity to generate adequate electricity, but they are just saving the cost of furnace oil! Why is KESC not accountable to the government? Why are they getting away with this?

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