DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Peshawar Division administration has decided to shift electricity load-shedding from the feeder level to the transformer level, a move aimed at shielding regular bill-paying areas from outages caused by power theft elsewhere.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsood on Monday, said an official statement. The statement said the meeting was attended by deputy commissioners of the division, PESCO superintending engineer and all PESCO executive engineers. Under the new mechanism, transformers serving localities with no electricity theft and regular payment of dues will, as far as possible, be exempted from load-shedding.
The statement added the areas where theft or default persists will continue to face outages at the transformer level. “The objective is that honest consumers should not suffer because of theft or non-payment in other parts of the same feeder,” Mr. Mahsood said.
Officials said the system will be rolled out initially on a trial basis in parts of Charsadda, Matni and Chamkani. Performance will be reviewed before extending it to more areas across the division. The commissioner directed PESCO and district administrations to strengthen coordination to ensure smooth implementation and prompt redressal of public complaints. The meeting also approved the formation of special teams in all districts of Peshawar division, headed by assistant commissioners, to act against power thieves, the _kunda_ mafia and major defaulters.
Mr. Mahsood instructed the authorities to utilize all available resources to eliminate power theft, recover dues and accelerate meter installation.
He stressed that action would be taken without discrimination and was not targeted at any individual or area, but aimed at improving the power system and ensuring uniform enforcement of the law.
The commissioner has sought weekly progress reports detailing action against power theft, recovery of dues, meter installations, measures against major defaulters, and the relief provided to consumers, it added.
