XWDiscos cause Rs292b loss to national exchequer during FY 2021-22.

ISLAMABAD -- The Ex-Wapda Discos (XWDiscos) have caused a loss of Rs292 billion during financial year 2021-22 to the national exchequer on account of T and D losses and less recoveries, as NEPRA has termed the performance of power distribution companies throughout FY 2021-22, saying that under the given circumstances, the existing Discos set up would not be able to deliver. In its performance evaluation report of the XWDiscos and Thermal Power Plants for FY 2021-22, released here by NEPRA, said that the number of fatalities both for employees and public occurred in all distribution companies were 196 which is around 11 percent more than the previous year. The highest number of deaths occurred in PESCO (39) followed by HESCO (35), IESCO (27) and K-Electric (27) during FY 2021-22. Further it is observed that most of the fatalities of these distribution companies pertain to general public. Similarly, the lowest number of deaths occurred in FESCO followed by MEPCO and QESCO. NEPRA has concluded that the performance of Discos throughout this period remained below par and power sector reforms could not be achieved. Keeping in view the continuous poor performance, it is evident that under the given circumstances, the existing Discos set up would not be able to deliver. To overcome the performance deficiency, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has recommended that structural changes at mega scale such as closure of PPMC, bifurcation of large Discos, provincialisation of Discos, privatisation/ corporatisation of Discos and reduction of union's influence are required. On T and D losses the regulator said overall, the financial loss born by the national exchequer in FY 2021-22 due to breach of NEPRA targets by the distribution companies i.e. is around Rs122.6 billion. It is pertinent to highlight that PESCO has contributed highest among all followed by SEPCO. As far as PESCO, SEPCO, QESCO and HESCO are concerned, it is seriously observed that these four Discos have heavily burdened the national exchequer in terms of Rs64 billion, Rs21.4 billion, Rs18.6 billion and Rs14 billion, respectively. Discos like GEPCO, FESCO, MEPCO and K-Electric who have achieved the NEPRA targets have reduced the burden of national exchequer in terms of Rs1.1 billion, Rs0.64 billion, Rs0.90 billion and Rs2.15 billion, respectively. Similarly, IESCO which is almost near to NEPRA figure has little bit contributed in financial loss of around Rs0.22 billion...