Against tampering: Locals to have theft-resistant electricity cables

They are well-insulated and prevent harm during rain

PESHAWAR: In a bid to put an end to the power theft and line losses, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has started replacing old wires with aerial bundled cables (ABC).

According to insiders, the ABCs are properly insulated and provide a viable solution to power woes.

“The cords can also be called anti-theft cables as electricity cannot be stolen from them through hooks,” said Pesco Public Relations Director General Shaukat Afzal. “The public is a bit reluctant but work on the ABC project is under way.”

Read: LESCO board outlines major causes of power theft

The project has been launched through the assistance of United States Agency for International Development.

“We plan to install these cables in Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera,” he said. “In Peshawar circle, 500-kilometres of wires will be laid while the cables will be installed in areas with losses crossing 30%.”

Power connections

The tender for installing the cable in Peshawar circle has been given to Nariman Construction Company.

“The cable will not only control line losses but also put an end to accidents caused by electrocution during rains and storms,” the company’s project director Yar Habib Afridi told The Express Tribune. “The cable has wires which are insulated and cannot be destroyed easily during storms,” he said. “Even if the cable falls, it will not cause electrocution.”

Afridi added similar cables are installed in Multan and have shown favourable results.

“Connection from the cables cannot be obtained unless a two or three-phase connector is linked to them,” he said. “Unlike the bare wires, ABCs can only be installed by experts. As a result, direct hooks cannot be attached to them.”

Read: Booked: PESCO arrest 44 for electricity theft in city

A site engineer who works for the contractor said the cable is more powerful than the more commonly used bare wires that have the capacity of holding up to 180 amperes of current. “The ABC being installed in Peshawar has the capacity of bearing 300 amperes hence will allow more current to pass,” he added.

Equal distribution

Moreover, the ABCs will also prevent short circuits that are caused in transformers due to overloading.

“We are balancing the load on transformers when giving connection to meters,” said Kashif who looks after the work carried out in Hassan Garhi area. “The cable has a separate wire for street lights so the government will not have to worry whenever street lights need to be installed.”

The project director said 20 teams are working in Kohat Road, Paharipura, Hassan Garhi and Lala sub-divisions to complete the work.

Shahi Bagh SDO Aurangzeb said,“Our work has been reduced in areas where the cables have been installed because there are lesser power-related complaints.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th,  2015.