Struggling with recovery: PESCO running monthly losses worth millions

Recovery drive has had some success in removing illegal connections.

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has begun publicising names of customers who have defaulted on their payments.

Pesco faces a Rs400 million loss every month because of a low recovery rate, said Pesco spokesperson, Shaukat Afzal.

“Pesco defaulters have finally been directed to deposit their electricity dues,” he said, adding that failure will result in legal action against them.

The company started a ‘Detection and Recovery’ drive by constituting special teams under the directives of the Chief Executive Brigadier (retired) Tariq Sadozai. Pesco has had some success in detecting and removing illegal electrical connections, but the recovery remains substantially low.

In some cases, defaulters owe the company up to Rs6 million. The company’s list of defaulters includes names according to districts and sub-districts.

“The drive against illegal use of electricity and recovery of arrears from defaulters will continue,” Afzal said, adding that such practices overburden the whole distribution system and result in frequent power breakdowns.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2012.