USAID-funded computer centre inaugurated at DISCO

Multan’s electricity utility to use it to monitor line losses.

FAISALABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has inaugurated a new planning and engineering computer centre at the Multan Electric Supply Company (Mesco). The centre is equipped with the latest generation of sophisticated computers and software that Mesco engineers will be able to utilise in ensuring more reliable supply of power to consumers.

At the event, USAID Mission Director Jack Conly remarked that: “Distribution companies don’t have a system to assess energy losses. That makes it difficult to come up with solutions to the problem. The USAID Power Distribution Program is helping the Multan Electric Supply Company by establishing a planning and engineering computer centre using the same type of software the United States uses to manage its energy to perform much-needed assessments and implement plans for loss reduction.”



Mesco’s power distribution system supports approximately 120 million Pakistanis. Distribution companies (DISCOs) like Mesco play a key role in ensuring smooth and uninterrupted delivery of power to residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial customers. Establishment of the new USAID-funded computer centre will allow Mesco to segregate technical losses so they can plan and implement plans for loss reduction. These plans will enable the energy sector to save megawatts and increase revenues, which are both key to solving the issue of circular debt.

USAID has established similar computer centres in seven other DISCOs throughout the country. Through the Power Distribution Project, USAID is also introducing new technologies like smart meters to improve meter reading and thus improve the accuracy of billing to Pakistanis.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2013.

Like Business on Facebook to stay informed and join in the conversation.