Pepco directs discos to lower industrial load by 15 percent

The Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has now directed the power distribution companies (discos) to lower industrial load by 15 percent after introducing five hours a day load shedding to the textile industry a day earlier, industries sources said. This decision by Pepco has gathered endless worries for different industrial sectors, particularly the textile industry.

According to sources, the textile industry has objected to the move strongly and pointed out that it was already deprived of the exemption, and the present move would be equivalent to its closure. Sources said that Pepco officials have assured of not applying the load lowering down formula to the textile sector.

However, the textile millers are yet worried about the situation and are not sure whether the power authorities would keep the promise or not. The electricity was causing over 30 percent of the conversion cost in spinning sector industry and it has already crossed 40 percent of the conversion cost for organised weaving sector.

Already, about 30 percent of the textile industry has been closed due to power crisis and consumption of electricity on B-3 connections has reduced to about 100 units presently from over 800 units in late 2007. Aptma budget proposals speak for full time availability of electricity, competitive rates in line with regional competitors and freezing of power tariff for textile value-added chain for two years, besides introduction of special textile tariff for the 2009-10 budget.

Earlier, the textile industry, which is exempted from load shedding, was conveyed last Thursday to face load shedding for five hours daily till May 19. Pepco would have a load shedding schedule of five hours, starting from 2000 hours to 0100 hours daily for industrial consumers till May 19. Pepco has already burdened the domestic consumers by shifting load shedding of six hours officially.

It may be noted that Pepco was introducing such measures in the face of the rising demand of electricity with the increase in mercury rising continuously over the last few days causing an increase to the use of air conditioners in general as well. Press reports are continuously suggesting that the electricity shortfall has touched the figure of 2,500 MW to 3000 MW and load shedding of nine hours is being carried out at present.

Tags: loadshedding, PepCo, power crisis