Power protests: People take to the streets in near freezing temperatures
PESCO says decrease in power generation by hydel power projects has led to reduced supply.
Calling the outages ‘unjustified’ protesters threatened to stop paying bills if the situation persists. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Prolonged power cuts led to enraged residents protesting in near freezing temperatures on Monday.
Chanting slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) on City Circular Road, protesters burnt tyres, blocking traffic in the busy area of the provincial capital.
There are excessive power outages in Lahori Gate, Ganj, Garikhana, Nishtarabad and adjacent areas, including Mohallah Sarbanan, Mohallah Mulla Baro, and MohallahMulla Samad. One man claimed that up to 16 hours of load-shedding is experienced in his area.
Dr Shafiq Ahmad said the prolonged cuts have brought their lives to a standstill. “In winters there is less power consumption as people do not use fans or air-conditioners, increasing power cuts in this weather is beyond our comprehension,” he added. Haji Sher Khan said that it has also halted business activities in the said areas.
Calling the outages ‘unjustified’ protesters threatened to stop paying bills if the situation persists.
Pesco had earlier appealed to consumers to cooperate in the face of declining power generation. “We are taking all possible steps to overcome the energy crisis,” said Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal, adding that the public should conserve energy and consume less, especially during peak hours of 6-11pm.
Pesco maintained that the decrease in power generation by hydel power projects is due to the closure of canals, while the Independent Power Producers have also reduced their production. “Due to extreme cold and misuse of electricity all over the country, the demand has increased while the supply has gone down,” Afzal added.
Afzal claimed that Pesco is carrying out load-shedding in proportion to line losses. Areas where line losses are minimum, there is three-four hours of power cuts. “In areas where there are more than 30% line losses, Pesco has to resort to longer hours of power outages,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
Prolonged power cuts led to enraged residents protesting in near freezing temperatures on Monday.
Chanting slogans against the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) on City Circular Road, protesters burnt tyres, blocking traffic in the busy area of the provincial capital.
There are excessive power outages in Lahori Gate, Ganj, Garikhana, Nishtarabad and adjacent areas, including Mohallah Sarbanan, Mohallah Mulla Baro, and MohallahMulla Samad. One man claimed that up to 16 hours of load-shedding is experienced in his area.
Dr Shafiq Ahmad said the prolonged cuts have brought their lives to a standstill. “In winters there is less power consumption as people do not use fans or air-conditioners, increasing power cuts in this weather is beyond our comprehension,” he added. Haji Sher Khan said that it has also halted business activities in the said areas.
Calling the outages ‘unjustified’ protesters threatened to stop paying bills if the situation persists.
Pesco had earlier appealed to consumers to cooperate in the face of declining power generation. “We are taking all possible steps to overcome the energy crisis,” said Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal, adding that the public should conserve energy and consume less, especially during peak hours of 6-11pm.
Pesco maintained that the decrease in power generation by hydel power projects is due to the closure of canals, while the Independent Power Producers have also reduced their production. “Due to extreme cold and misuse of electricity all over the country, the demand has increased while the supply has gone down,” Afzal added.
Afzal claimed that Pesco is carrying out load-shedding in proportion to line losses. Areas where line losses are minimum, there is three-four hours of power cuts. “In areas where there are more than 30% line losses, Pesco has to resort to longer hours of power outages,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.