Energy: Distribution companies to start consumer survey

Survey one of the conditions imposed by World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to start an electricity consumption survey through distribution companies to control the energy crisis, reduce power outages and eliminate theft.

The survey was one of the conditions imposed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

According to sources, the government has prepared a pro forma for the survey through the Islamabad Electric Supply Company and is expected to finish the survey within a month.

The survey had been previously outsourced but the results were less than satisfactory as the surveys proceeded extremely slowly, said the source, adding that the survey will check meters of all types of consumers to measure the electricity being supplied to them.

The survey will also measure the power being supplied to all transformers and feeders. Sources said that the survey will assist in curtailing power theft.

Separately, sources said that the board of directors of these distribution companies have been disbanded and that notifications for the appointment of new directors will be issued after discussions between the ministry of finance, the Planning Commission and the ministry of water and power before the end of this month.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2010.