Electricity shortfall now 2500MW, says Pepco

ISLAMABAD: Electricity shortfall in the country remains above the 2500MW mark despite a decline in temperature and recent rain in some parts, as the Pakistan Electric Power Company tries to deal with the situation arising out of the technical problems at Mangla dam.

Urban areas of Punjab go without power for up to ten hours a day and the rural areas of central and southern Punjab for up to 16 hours.

Pepco says the gap between supply and demand has widened to 2500MW because of an increase in load and a deficit of 1100MW due to technical glitches at the Mangla power house.

It says the company is extending all possible assistance to Wapda in restoring electricity generation after rectifying the fault in the power house.

According to a Pepco statement, on the one hand the company is coordinating with the ministry of water and power, Wapda, distribution companies, NPCC and other departments for quick removal of faults at the power house and, on the other, has formulated a load management plan to supply electricity in such a manner that the consumers are inconvenienced the least.

It said the power house was likely to resume generating electricity in a few days. The company had called upon its consumers to cooperate with it in the difficult situation by supporting its load management plan.

All the IPPs and rental units had been asked to supply electricity to the Pepco system. The power supply had gone up to 14,064MW with the KESC getting 670MW, said the handout. link....