Federal government to bring transformer-based load management to KP
Energy Minister Awais Leghari said load shedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be managed at transformers rather than by shutting down whole feeders. He also agreed to reduce outages in high-loss areas.
- Load management in KP will be done at transformers, not whole feeders.
- Leghari agreed to cut load shedding in high-loss areas.
- Consumers who pay bills regularly may get relief, Express News reported.
- Federal and provincial leaders agreed to keep close contact on the plan.
Federal Energy Minister Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said a transformer-based load management system is being implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the automated system, the traditional practice of switching off an entire feeder will end, and load will instead be managed at individual transformers.
The announcement followed an advisory meeting at the Power Division on KP's electricity and energy problems. The meeting was held on the special directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with the aim of finding lasting solutions to the province's energy issues.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi attended, along with the secretaries of the Power and Petroleum divisions, the Prime Minister's special assistant on energy and the KP Chief Secretary. Express News also reported that the federal Petroleum Minister took part.
Governor Kundi raised the issue of prolonged load shedding in the province with the federal government. He called for immediate and effective steps to keep the duration of load shedding to a minimum, especially in areas with high losses and difficult conditions.
Leghari agreed to reduce load shedding in high-loss areas where long outages were being carried out, so that hours of supply would increase. Express News reported that consumers who pay their electricity bills regularly may get relief from load shedding under the new system.
The federal leadership expressed hope that people would pay their dues regularly and cooperate in ending electricity theft.
The federal government and the provincial leadership agreed to keep communication strong in order to carry out the agreed plan and ensure relief for KP residents. The reports did not give a start date for the new system.
Why it matters
The change would alter how power cuts are applied to households and businesses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with regular bill payers possibly getting relief.
