PAC surprised at payment to IPPs not generating electricity 

Expressing concern that some of the independent power producers (IPPs), which were not generating electricity, were still being paid by the government, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday sought details of all the agreements signed with these power producers, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Committee chairman wondered when the IPPs were not doing the job they had been asked to do, then what was the logic behind paying them.     

Speaking on the occasion, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) chairman said that the nature of PPA’s agreements with the IPPs were related to the capacity payment charges.  

When Sheikh Rohail Asghar, PAC member, asked about the percentage of power theft in the country, the NEPRA chairman replied that although Discos had been allowed 13 per cent line losses, these even reached 17 per cent. “Most of the incidents of power theft are reported from the areas covered by the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), and stand at 65 per cent,” he informed.   

The chairman further said that losses were also being suffered because of the provision of facility of net metering to the consumers. “We have the capacity of generating 41, 000 megawatts more electricity,” he told the committee.   

When another PAC member Saleem Mandviwalla asked as to what was the reason for the loadshedding when there was more capacity for power production in the country, the chairman replied that actually it was due to the fuel shortage. 

Responding to the statement made by MNA Noor Alam, who had said it appeared as if the NEPRA chairman was being provided electricity free of cost, the latter said, “No sir. That is not the case. I have just paid the bill totaling Rs68, 000,” he said.   

Reporter: Usman Khan