Govt clarifies peak hours strategy, no extra load shedding planned

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division spokesperson has clarified regarding the peak hours and relief strategy.

According to the Power Division spokesperson, the government has decided not to do 2 and a half hours of load management in HESCO and K-Electric.

In the south, the relief of cheap electricity from alternative sources will be transferred to the public and the reason for not doing load management in these two DISCOs is less dependence on furnace oil.

The spokesperson said that there is abundant cheap electricity generated from other sources in the south of the country. The cheap electricity generated in the south is being used within both DISCOs, consumers are not being unnecessarily inconvenienced due to the generation of cheap electricity.

The Power Division clarified that the government is currently facing a major challenge of increasing electricity consumption during peak hours. To deal with this situation and reduce the use of expensive fuel, it has been decided that an average of two and a half hours of power shutdown (load management) will be done daily between 5 pm and 1 am.

The spokesperson said that if this load shedding had not been done, electricity prices could have increased by Rs 3 per unit. On the special instructions of the Prime Minister, local gas supply was ensured, which prevented an increase of 80 paise in the price per unit.

The spokesperson warned that if timely administrative measures and improvements in the transmission system were not taken, electricity prices could have increased by Rs 5 to 6 per unit. However, despite limiting the use of furnace oil, consumers will have to be prepared for an increase of Rs 1.5 per unit.

The Power Division has suggested that if commercial markets are closed on time, the possible increase in prices can be prevented further by reducing the demand for electricity.