Power cuts in Lahore fuel anger over rising electricity bills

LAHORE: As temperatures rise in Lahore, extended electricity outages are adding to public frustration, with many residents questioning why their power bills continue to climb despite an unreliable supply.

According to officials, electricity demand on the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) network has increased to about 2,400 megawatts, while supply from the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) is around 2,280MW. Although the gap appears limited in numerical terms, it has resulted in load-shedding lasting several hours in many parts of the city.

LESCO officials said outages are more severe in areas where line losses are high and electricity theft is reported. In such localities, they said, daily power interruptions are continuing for between two and four hours. The utility says the cuts are aimed at keeping the system stable and reducing financial losses.

That explanation, however, has not eased public anger in affected neighbourhoods.

Residents report prolonged and unannounced outages

Areas including Green Town, Township, China Scheme, Baghbanpura, GT Road and Sabzazar, along with semi-urban localities on the outskirts of Lahore, have been experiencing lengthy and often unscheduled power cuts. In some places, residents said electricity remained unavailable for more than three hours at a stretch, while repeated complaints to the utility brought little relief.

A resident of Sabzazar said, "The bills keep increasing every month, but the electricity disappears without warning," adding that his family was finding it difficult to manage in the intense heat. He further said, "We are paying for a service we're not even getting."

The same concerns are being voiced in other parts of the city, where consumers say the uncertainty surrounding outages has disrupted routine life and created difficulties for households.

Businesses say outages are adding to costs

Small businesses have also been affected, with shopkeepers saying the power cuts are hurting sales and forcing them to spend more on backup arrangements. Many have turned to generators to keep operations running, increasing their expenses at a time when electricity charges are already a concern.

Shopkeeper Muhammad Asif said, "It's not just the heat - it's the financial burden," and added, "Fuel for generators is expensive, electricity bills are already high, and yet we still face hours without power. How is this justified?"

The complaints come as Lahore faces hotter weather and higher electricity demand, intensifying pressure on the power distribution system. While LESCO maintains that the outages are linked to system management in areas with losses and theft, residents in multiple neighbourhoods say the continuing cuts and rising bills have become increasingly difficult to bear.

The situation has sharpened concerns among consumers who say they are being asked to pay more even as electricity supply remains inconsistent across several parts of the provincial capital.