ISLAMABAD(The COW News Digital) The federal government has decided to introduce a system allowing electricity distribution companies to switch off individual transformers instead of shutting down entire feeders in areas affected by power theft.
Federal Minister for Energy Owais Leghari said the proposed system would allow authorities to disconnect only the transformer where electricity theft is detected, reducing the need to cut power to an entire feeder.
Speaking to the media, Leghari described transformer-level control as a new concept being adopted internationally and said the regulatory framework for the system is expected to be finalized by April or May next year.
The minister said Pakistan currently has around 14,000 electricity feeders, with approximately 3,500 experiencing load shedding because of electricity theft and line losses. He said some distribution companies were carrying out substantially more load shedding than officially permitted.
Leghari also acknowledged significant weaknesses in the distribution system, saying the networks of distribution companies, or DISCOs, had become overloaded. According to him, between Rs200 billion and Rs250 billion could be required to upgrade infrastructure, with the investment expected to be recovered from consumers over a period of up to 25 years.
He said the government had instructed DISCOs to prepare comprehensive investment plans aimed at strengthening the electricity distribution network.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy, officials from Hazara Electric Supply Company also briefed lawmakers on transformer requirements and monsoon-related measures. Officials said 150 transformers had been provided across eight districts during the monsoon season.
The meeting also discussed the delayed construction of the 132kV Padhiana Grid Station. Lawmakers questioned why the project had been shifted and sought clarification over the circumstances behind the decision.
Leghari alleged that inaccurate load assessments in demand notices, allegedly facilitated through collusion and bribery, were contributing to excessive pressure on the electricity system. He said overloading and weak infrastructure were among the reasons behind recurring power outages.
The minister further said that peak-hour load management had also been linked to fuel-cost considerations and that gas-fired power plants were not being operated during certain peak periods.
On net metering, Leghari said changes to the system had encouraged consumers to install batteries, arguing that this could reduce pressure on the national grid.
He also rejected reports that the government had signed new agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), saying no new IPP agreement had been concluded.
The government is expected to finalize the regulatory framework for transformer-level load management before moving toward wider implementation.
