LAHORE: Speakers at a consultative session were unanimous that controlling theft, appointing professionals in Discos, increasing power generation from indigenous and renewable resources, and separating financial recoveries like taxes and fee from electricity bills are crucial to reduce the rising power tariffs for consumers.

They were also of the view that there is a need to reduce the cost of power production in order to lower tariffs and eliminate the uniform tariff policy across the board, making distribution companies more efficient and responsible for managing losses in their respective territories.

During a session titled ‘Increase in Power Tariffs — impact on consumer affordability, Discos recoveries, and circular debt,’ Chairman of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) board of directors, Hafiz Muhammad Numan, said that power distribution companies (Discos) implement the tariffs set by the government through National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

“The government has increased the power tariff under the IMF pressure. Moreover, the capacity charges being paid to the IPPs [independent power producers] also played a major role in tariff hike,” said Mr Nauman, while speaking on the occasion.

He said the company is still getting 30,000 fresh connection applications every month since electricity is the basic need of life.

According to him, Lesco plans to establish its own police and has requested the Punjab government to link property transactions with the no objection certificate from Lesco.

Shahid Haider, CEO of Lesco, stated that the company registered 22,683 FIRs against power thieves and recovered Rs1.91 billion.

Additionally, Lesco has taken action against 70 employees involved in power theft, with more than a dozen already terminated from service after being proven guilty.

Lahore Chamber of Com­merce and Industry Presi­dent Kashif Anwar emphasised the need to utilise rene­wable power generation reso­urces, including the construction of the Kalabagh Dam and indigenous solar power generation.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2023