USAID programme helps save millions

Project may be extended to other districts.

The USAID’s Power Distribution Program, in cooperation with the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) has completed installation of 183 low tension (LT) capacitors on Tube-Wells in one selected feeder in Lodhran sub-division of Mepco.

The capacitor installations were carried out as part of a pilot project which has the potential to be replicated in other parts of the country in various Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

Installations of 183 LT capacitors has resulted in an estimated savings of 27,499 KWH/month which they can now provide to consumers and in addition will save Mepco over three million rupees per year.

“USAID’s technical assistance has resulted in amazing results, whereby load of 11 KV feeders emanating from 132 KV Grid Station Lodhran was dropped from 380 Amps to 280 Amps and eventually low voltage problem faced by the locality was overcome. We would like USAID to extend technical assistance through this project to three more feeders including Okanwala Feeder, Old Shah Kot Feeder and New Shah Kot Feeder” said Guftar Ahmed Chief Executive Officer, Mepco.

“The proposed intervention will reduce the KVA demand on the feeder by 517 KVA, and allow the feeder to deliver an additional 468KW at 90% power factor,” said Dick Dumford, Chief of Party of the USAID’s Power Distribution Program. “The USAID Power Distribution Program shall continue to assist DISCOs to bring improvements to their systems so the people of Pakistan get the best services. We are about to complete IT trainings for more than 1,100 DISCOs staff and our Safety Program shall result in capacity building of 10,000 linemen of nine DISCOs in Pakistan”.

USAID’s Power Distribution Program (PDP) is a three-year, USAID-funded program aimed at working jointly with government-owned electric power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to improve their performance in terms of reduction in losses, and improvement in revenues and customer services, to bring them to a level of well-run utilities as in other progressive countries. Through this programme, the United States Government provides assistance and support to the Government of Pakistan (GOP) in its efforts to reform the power sector to end the current energy crisis.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2011.