Power distribution companies (DISCOs) cost Rs.157 billion to the national exchequer during the last year of PMLN government (2017-2018).
DISCOs also violated the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (NEPRA) laws by exceeding their prescribed limit. According to sources, the losses of all companies crossed the prescribed limits of NEPRA, as the authority had set a limit of 10.2 percent to 31.9 percent for losses.
The losses were higher than the limit because of poor performance and insufficient arrangements by the DISCOs which resulted in a loss of 28 billion units in a year, or over Rs. 157 billion.
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As per the details, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESC) lost Rs. 49 billion in a year while the Crescent Electric Supply Company (CESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) incurred losses worth Rs. 19 billion and Rs. 37 billion respectively.
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) and Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) have incurred losses of more than Rs. 7 billion. Whereas, Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) incurred a loss of over Rs. 3 billion to the national exchequer.
According to the Power Division, the reasons for these losses include illegal connections, overextended feeders, and unrealistic goals, among others.