ISLAMABAD - The USAID Power Distribution Programme and Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) are working together to bring improvements in DISCOs including the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
Under the USAID Power Distribution Programme more than 126 senior and mid-level managers of DISCOs have participated in the Utility Exchange Programmes in eight different countries, including USA, Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, UAE, South Africa and Turkey. USAID has conducted eleven Exchange Programs for energy sector with the express purpose of introducing DISCOs’ leaders to international best practices in Commercial Management, HR & Change Management, Distribution Systems Engineering, Engineering Planning, Financial Management Planning, Customer Services, and Communications. USAID conducted a special Exchange Programme to the United Arab Emirates in March 2013 for mid-level women employees from eight DISCOs in Customer Services and Commercial Management.
USAID has also completed over twenty functional and leadership training courses throughout all DISCOs reaching over 1300 DISCO staff. Training in leadership, finance, accounting, HR, engineering, customer service, meter reading and other areas were provided after a detailed needs assessment determined that the DISCOs require skill development in these areas. Basic IT training was given to more than 1,000 DISCOs’ staff to promote the use of IT in DISCOs.
Sustainability is critical to long term success therefore USAID launched Training of Trainers courses to have skilled DISCOs’ trainers fully capable of teaching courses developed by USAID. These trainers will use global standard, modern training methods which increase the knowledge and skill retention of trainees. To further support sustainability, USAID has provided modern training equipment, including multi-media to each purpose-built Regional Training Center of DISCOs.