Power Crisis Deepens: Govt imposes daily peak-hour outages to avert massive tariff surge

ISLAMABAD: Facing mounting fuel constraints, the government on Tuesday announced over two hours of daily power outages during peak evening hours in a bid to prevent a steep rise in electricity tariffs.

According to a statement issued by the Power Division, electricity supply will be suspended for approximately 2.25 hours each day between 5:00pm and 1:00am. The move, officials said, is designed to curb reliance on costly fuel sources and shield consumers from significant price hikes.

The decision follows the disruption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies after Qatar—Pakistan’s primary LNG provider—declared force majeure amid attacks on its gas infrastructure linked to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. Pakistan imports up to 1,000 mmcfd of LNG under long-term agreements with Qatar.

While authorities maintained that the national grid has the capacity to meet overall demand, they acknowledged that peak-hour consumption—particularly due to reduced hydel generation—poses a serious challenge. Meeting this surge through expensive fuels, they warned, would sharply inflate electricity costs.

The Power Division highlighted recent efforts to ease the burden on consumers, noting that average tariffs had dropped by 71 paisa per unit between July and February, resulting in a cumulative relief of Rs46 billion. These gains were attributed to structural reforms, improved planning, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Despite global pressures, officials insisted the power generation system remains stable and capable of meeting demand. The situation is being closely monitored under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has instructed authorities to prevent any sharp increase in electricity prices.

To mitigate the crisis, 80 mmcfd of local gas has been diverted to power plants, helping avoid an estimated increase of 80 paisa per unit while reducing the need for extended outages.

Officials stressed that the limited load management during peak hours is intended to prevent a potential tariff hike of up to Rs3 per unit. Even with controlled use of furnace oil, electricity prices may still rise by about Rs1.5 per unit, compared to a possible surge of Rs5 to Rs6 without these measures.

Distribution companies have been directed to provide feeder-wise outage schedules to ensure transparency and avoid inconvenience. Authorities also assured that no unscheduled outages would be permitted, and any disruptions due to technical faults would be promptly communicated.

The government emphasized that the measure is part of a broader “Peak Relief Strategy” rather than traditional loadshedding, aimed at minimizing the financial impact of global energy disruptions on consumers.

Reaffirming its commitment, the Power Division said coordinated efforts—including timely closure of commercial markets—could further ease demand pressures and help contain electricity costs amid ongoing international challenges.