Six pole-mounted transformers (PMTs) were disconnected from where 35 to 70 per cent of the electricity was being stolen as well. The total number of consumers linked to these PMTs is about 1,400. Only the supply to those PMTs was disconnected where a majority of the residents were not paying their bills and the theft rate was also high. The remaining areas of the colony are still receiving electricity. The PMTs disconnected are: Medical Centre (Salateen Shireen Jinnah), Mohabbat Khan (Clifton Medical), Obaid-ur Rehman, Shireen Jinnah (Rehman Service), Ocean Graphic Left and Ocean Graphic Right.
For its part, KESC reiterated that it will continue its bill recovery campaign with “full force” without any discrimination, to achieve results. KESC will welcome large volume defaulters who come forward and negotiate the reconnection of their services based on an acceptable plan for the clearance of their bills, said a press release.
It sent out an urgent appeal to all sections of society to cooperate. The company is going to keep disconnecting defaulting neighbourhoods across Karachi. The crackdown is particularly aimed at all people and businesses that steal electricity, tamper with meters and fail to pay their bills. No political pressure will be accepted. “Everyone has to fulfill their responsibility for the collective benefit and betterment of society,” said the press release.
Unless KESC does this, it will not be able to reduce load-shedding and rolling blackouts. It is becoming increasingly difficult for KESC to meet its payment obligations for furnace oil, to gas suppliers and independent power producers, something which is negatively affecting its capacity to generate power.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 11th,2010.
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