LESCO saves Rs138b, reduces line losses by 4.38pc: Amir Zia

LAHORE, Apr 07 (APP): Lahore Electric Supply Company’s Board of Directors (LESCO-BoD) Chairman Amir Zia has said that LESCO made financial saving of Rs 138 billion and reduced its line losses by 4.38 percent, besides ensuring outstanding dues recovery from defaulters at 101.4 percent during the last one year.

He was briefing media men about the major points of the company’s one-year (April 2025 to March 2026) performance report under the leadership of LESCO Chief Executive Officer Engineer Muhammad Ramzan Butt here at Lahore Press Club (LPC) on Tuesday. The LPC President Arshad Ansari, General Secretary Afzaal Talib, and LESCO Chief and other officers concerned were also present.

Responding to reporters’ queries, he said that the company has make significant improvements and historic achievements during this period, which is the result of effective strategies, transparent governance and teamwork.

Refering to LESCO performance report, he said, a total financial savings of more than Rs 138 billion was achieved, which is the result of reduction in line losses, improvement in recovery and procurement reforms.

Transmission and distribution losses were reduced from 16.80 percent to 12.40 percent, while billing recovery reached 101.40 percent, resulting in a saving of Rs 63 billion. Over 174,000 cases were identified, 51,995 cases were registered and over 33,000 FIRs were filed in the operations against power theft. During these operations, 263 million units of power theft were detected and detection bills worth Rs 14.2 billion were levied, he mentioned.

To another question, the LESCO Board Chairman said that electricity theft was exposed through modern methods like meter data freezing, digital meter reversing, firmware reprogramming and meter bypass through modern technology, for which data analytics and MDMS systems were used.

Ten modern customer care centers, he added, were established for the convenience of consumers, while the complaint system was improved through 118 helpline, SMS 8118 and mobile app.

The timely redressal rate of complaints increased from 66 percent to 98.9 percent. At present, for the first time in 10 years, there are zero written complaints from the Federal Complaint Cell, while only one complaint is pending online. CCMS Plus and E-OPS systems were implemented in all 201 subdivisions, he maintained.

Under the procurement reforms, he said, 2032 industrial meters were converted to AMI smart meters, while their prices were reduced by 32 to 47 percent, which enabled the power sector to save Rs 60 to 70 billion annually. Moreover, savings of Rs 6.1 billion were achieved on every one million single-phase meters and Rs 1.04 billion on 50,000 three-phase meters. Under governance and digital transformation, data center, GIS mapping, ERP system and smart grid pilot projects were launched. To improve load management and further improve system performance, four new grid stations 132 kV Manawan, Pak Arab, Aden City and ATS Synthetic Independent Grid have been added to LESCO.

LESCO CEO Engineer Muhammad Ramzan Butt said that Punjab government is taking steps to beautify the city and the beautification campaign is going on rapidly in LESCO, in which hanging and messy wires are being arranged, regular bundling is being done, while dilapidated poles are being repaired and replaced so that the citizens can have a safe, organized and beautiful environment. He asserted that proper fixing and setting of meters has been started regularly, which will reduce electricity theft, eliminate supply disruptions, reduce meter losses and make it easier for meter readers to take accurate readings.

LESCO Board Chairman Amir Zia said that these achievements of LESCO are the result of teamwork, transparency and effective use of modern technology. He said that LESCO would continue its efforts in the future to eliminate power theft, improve the system and provide best facilities to the consumers in accordance with the power sector reform policy of the Government of Pakistan.