The October this year hasn't been kind so far for Karachites who are still
facing an untimed hot weather with temperature rising 40 degree centigrade. Worse
and more unbearable was the power interruptions and unannounced load-shedding
on behalf of K Electric in this souring heat. Many areas of the city has
experienced above 8 hours without electricity. However, even worse is the news of
the day that NEPRA has allowed the K-Electric to raise the consumer tariff
further 0.70 paisa per unit.
As reported, the management of the K Electric sought
a hike in tariff to 15.57 per unit for consumers of Karachi. But the NEPRA
raised it to Rs. 12.77 from Rs. 12.07 which was set couple of months ago in March
2017. Apparently it is for to facilitate the sale of majority stakes from
Abraaj Capital to Shanghai Electric of China. The period for the Multi-Year
Tariff shall be seven years applicable from July 1, 2016 till June 30, 2023.
A city of over 23 million, electricity situation in
Karachi is deplorable, brutal and unjust. The K-Electric formerly the Karachi
Electric Supply Corporation before it was privitised in 2005 to the Abraaj
Capital is a sole power utility of the city was, supplying 2500 MW electricity
in Karachi, which is sufficient enough according to statistics, but power
crisis persists in the city for many reasons. Due to massive and uncalled loadshedding
residents protest on the road, burn tyres and blocking traffic in the
metropolis. Irregular power outages have also caused shortage of water and officials
of the KWSB complain that owing to power outages in the pumping stations many
areas of the metropolis do not receive water.
Apart from loadshedding crisis, the K Electric is overtly
looting the citizens through time to time increased tariff, hidden over billing
and unfavourable fuel adjustment charges. It's tariff is not less than any Draconian
regulation which is just cruelly sucking after sucking the blood of its
consumers until, they die. People of Karachi have hardly got any solace or
public benefits since it's privitisation.
Whenever, NEPRA reduces power prices (due to fuel
adjustments) it did this year in March by Rs. 3.23 per unit and in August 2017
by Rs. 1.7 per unit for the consumers all over the country, yet the relief
didn't applicable to the consumers of K-Electric, because it is a private
entity now which prefers profits over general public wellbeing.
Though, the K Electric officially says it is
supplying 2500 MW but in practice it isn't. In truth it can supply 2500 MW or can
generate and transmit enough power required in the metropolis but again as it
is a private entity, therefore many claims it is producing less electricity to
save fuel in order to mint maximum profits.
It's recovery process is weirdly unbelievable. Instead
of working on to cut down the power pilferages and grip the electricity thieves
the K Electric has adopted a crude and unjustified formula which punish all the
consumers even handedly in the city. The KE officials publicly maintain that in
areas where consumers pay their electricity bills , there is hardly any
loadshedding. But in neighbourhoods where recovery is low, people face
loadshedding over eight hours -- just to adjust recovery losses or maintain the
profit margin..
I do not believe it will be heard in our corrupt governmental
corridors but the truth is it is time to renationalise the K-Electric for the
sake of public.
By
Editorial, Infocus
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