USAID PDP imparts training to DISCOs’ staff

RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Distribution Program (PDP) is strengthening Pakistan’s energy sector to improve the supply and distribution of power. In this effort, the USAID Power Distribution Program is training the staff of government-owned power distribution companies (DISCOs)s in power load management, which will eventually help in reducing unscheduled load shedding.

In this context, the USAID Power Distribution Program organized a two-day training session for Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) officials in Faisalabad. CEO FESCO Rashid Aslam distributed certificates among the training’s participants. The training was attended by 25 FESCO officers including Executive Engineers (XENs), Subdivisional Officers (SDOs) and Chief Engineer (CE) Transmission & Generation levels.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Distribution Program has successfully implemented its “Load Data Improvement (LDI) Program” in DISCOs, aimed at minimizing unscheduled load shedding. Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices were installed on a fast-track basis in all DISCOs including FESCO. The project also included the upgrade of each DISCO’s Power Distribution Center (PDC) and accordingly FESCO’s PDC was upgraded and made functional on May 30, 2013, with live data now being acquired from all of its grid stations and outgoing feeders.

The National Power Control Center (NPCC) supplies electricity to FESCO which then distributes it to the end consumer. Previously, the actual load data on incoming and outgoing feeders of grid stations was read manually by operators and transmitted telephonically to the DISCO’s PDC. This information was then manually transmitted to the NPCC for generation dispatch, in a process that was both time-consuming and opened the information to easy manipulation, with a distinct absence of accountability and oversight. Currently, under USAID’s LDI Program, the FESCO PDC is outfitted with multiple screens displaying live load data by grid substation and feeder. Power factor information is also displayed indicating when capacitor banks should be deployed to improve the voltage level. To date, a total of 1,064 AMR meters have been installed on 85 grid stations of FESCO that are reporting live load data information to perform effective load management and curtailing unscheduled load shedding.

The LDI project has helped FESCO in almost eliminating unscheduled load shedding, obtaining optimum utilization of available power, target planned load shedding resulting in increased revenues, and improving FESCO’s operational and financial performance. The USAID Power Distribution Program is a five-year USAID funded project. Through this program, the United States Government provides assistance to the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to reform the power sector and mitigate the current energy crisis.

The Program is helping government-owned DISCOs improve their performance by reducing losses, increasing revenues and enhancing customer services. More information can be solicited from its website: http://pdip.pk