Reduced load shedding linked to high recovery

Power theft crackdown yields Rs150m

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s task force dedicated to combating power theft has made a significant announcement regarding the reduction of load shedding in areas where consumer recovery efforts have proven successful.

This decision emerged during the second meeting of the task force, chaired by Muhammad Abid Majeed, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department. The meeting, attended by secretaries, divisional commissioners, the chief executive officer of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), deputy commissioners, and district police officers, revealed impressive outcomes achieved within a mere 15-day operation period.

During this time frame, a remarkable 7,454 electricity connections associated with power theft were disconnected, resulting in the successful recovery of fines and arrears exceeding Rs15 crore. Collaboratively, PESCO, the district administration, and the police executed more than 3,000 raids across various districts of the province, primarily targeting illegal power consumers. These efforts led to the disconnection of over 5,000 connections used for both commercial and residential purposes by those engaged in power theft.

The crackdown also included the registration of cases against 3,000 individuals, culminating in the arrest of hundreds involved in these unlawful activities. In response to consumer concerns, PESCO officials announced the approval of an installment-based procedure for arrear payments, aiming to facilitate consumers’ financial obligations. Looking ahead, the meeting disclosed PESCO’s plans to distribute one lakh meters post-September 30, streamlining the electricity installation process for consumers.