ISLAMABAD - Absence of due legislation on energy efficiency and necessary labelling on the power appliances are causing billion of rupees annual losses to the already burdened power consumers besides hours long power loadshedding in the country for a long time.
Official sources at water & power sector told The Nation that power consumers are facing Rs220 billion annual losses ostensibly due to absence of required legislation on energy efficiency and also because of the lack of necessary labelling on the power appliances while necessary cooperation among different departments is required indeed to get rid of it as soon as possible. Similarly, the consumers are further bearing the brunt of additional annual payment of Rs20 billion over the low power generation efficiency of majority of the power units of the country. The power generation efficiency of the power units usually stands around 30 per cent on average basis while international average standard stands at 45 per cent. Last but not the least, transmission and distribution systems of entire power sector is causing enormous annual loss of Rs70 billion, they added.
“Energy efficiency law and energy labelling on power appliances should be introduced in the country with immediate effect within aim to promote save energy campaign for the benefit of the country,” said a senior official at power ministry, adding, “Following the concerns raised by the apex court about the protection of the rights of power consumers during the hearing of power loadshedding and tariff case, the regulator has now approved Rs10 billion cut in the tariff of LESCO, keeping in mind the rate of losses and efficiency of power utility.”  When contacted with official sources at Nepra, they told that Nepra’s decisions regarding the tariff of remaining nine power-distributing companies (Discos) for the ongoing fiscal year (FY 2013-14) would be issued very soon and over burdened power consumers would find a sigh of relief with effect to the decision of regulator.
The sources also told that the power ministry is consulting the stakeholders regarding closure of open markets/business centres at 8 pm and a final decision in this very regard is expected very soon. They also told that the government has initiated energy audit of the power units, which would be completed till February.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) while adopting an unprecedented move in one and half decade has now finally approved cut in the power tariff of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) for financial year 2013-14, which in result would provide Rs 10 billion relief to the consumers of power utility.
Energy experts deplored that the government in its bid to resolve the ongoing biting power crisis is relying on an old technique of reducing the power load on the system instead of ensuring efficiency of the power units. Similarly, it is increasing the power tariff and duration of loadshedding to save the limited available energy. They also said that absence of energy efficiency law and energy labelling on power appliances is also causing billion rupees loss, which immediately required its introduction in the country to promote save energy campaign for the benefit of the country. “Earlier a proposal to hand over the power distributing companies (Discos) to the provinces was floated to save the Discos from losses but the provinces declined to take over the Discos, one of them observed,” one of them observed.