New precedent: PESCO launches drive against electricity theft

Detection teams constituted to root out illegal connections.

PESHAWAR: Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) launched a campaign on Thursday against power pilferage in the city.

Faced with huge losses and plagued by an old distribution system that often results in power theft, Pesco constituted detection teams to remove illegal connections.

“The detection teams will focus on removing illegal connections, which are a source of concern for the company in improving the region’s power supply system,” said Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal.



A team headed by Executive Engineer Jahangir Afridi raided areas in Urmar Payan, Urmar Miana, Urmar Bala and Qadeem in Rehman Baba sub-division and removed more than 150 illegal connections, informed Afzal.

“Concerned police stations have been asked to lodge FIRs against electricity theft,” he said, adding the company was gearing up in the drive against people stealing power. “We will root out the ‘kunda’ culture that is prevalent across the province.”

The spokesperson added eliminating illegal connections would allow the company to control its line losses.  “Pesco warned people stealing electricity to stop the power pilferage,” he said. “Not only does it cause the company massive financial and line losses, it also overloads the entire distribution system which causes load-shedding and frequent power breakdowns to occur,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2013.