Hydel Surge Limits Load Shedding to Two Hours, Power Division Says
Pakistan's Power Division has announced that improved hydroelectric generation has enabled distribution companies to cap load management at two hours, offering temporary relief to consumers ahead of peak summer demand.
The increase in hydel output follows seasonal water inflows into major reservoirs, boosting generation capacity at Tarbela, Mangla, and other key facilities. The Power Division confirmed the directive to all DISCOs, instructing them to maintain load-shedding schedules within the prescribed two-hour ceiling.
The development marks a modest improvement from the extended outages that have plagued urban and rural consumers in recent weeks. Officials attributed the gains to higher-than-expected snowmelt flows and adequate reservoir levels at this stage of the season.
However, energy analysts caution that the relief may be short-lived, as peak summer demand typically outpaces available supply by a significant margin. The government faces continued structural challenges in the power sector, including circular debt pressures and transmission losses that constrain effective distribution even when generation is adequate.
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