Islamabad:
An official on Thursday informed the Permanent Committee of the Energy Division that Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) had suffered losses of around RS60 billion in a year due to technical and not recovered problems.
The tenth meeting of the committee was chaired by Muhammad Idrees. The members reviewed the issue of Hesco’s discriminatory charge detachment and the denial of basic public service rights to consumers who pay invoices, collected by MNA Syed Hussain Tariq.
Tariq clarified that his criticism was aimed at the company’s structural policies and weaknesses, not its CEO or personal. He highlighted the difficult situation of consumers in the complexes and areas of apartment in Hyderabad, such as Sadar, where residents pay their bills in their entirety, but face prolonged interruptions.
Several members urged the power division and Hesco to prioritize structural reforms instead of short -term solutions.
The Secretary of the Energy Division informed the committee that Hesco had presented an investment plan to Nepra in November 2024 to update the feeders and strengthen the transmission network. The Committee ordered that Nepra be invited to the next meeting to clarify its position on the plan and related regulatory approvals.
The Secretary suggested that Hesco review and send his plan again so that Nepra’s comments on progress and deficiencies could appear before the committee. In addition, he proposed to convene a detailed meeting in Hesco and Sepco in his office within 10-12 days, once the flood situation decreased, with the CEO they attended. If progress was unsatisfactory, he said, a clear report would be required. The committee supported the proposal and ordered that the CEO of Sepco was also summoned.
The Committee also reviewed the Jam Nawaz Ali Grid Station project in District Sanghar. The authorities reported that 90% of the work had been completed, with only a tower crossing pending the approval of NTDC. The Committee ordered NTDC to accelerate the matter so that the grid could be in charge in October as committed.
