ISLAMABAD : Concerned over a sustained decline in electricity consumption across distribution companies (DISCOs), the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) has sought amendments to the Consumer Service Manual (CSM) to facilitate higher power offtake by industrial consumers.
In a letter to the Registrar of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), GEPCO Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Ayub proposed allowing existing B-3 (with independent feeder) industrial consumers, as of December 2025, to obtain multiple industrial electricity connections—up to a maximum of two—at the same premises, either from the same or different grid stations.
The CEO noted that Clause 2.8.1 of the NEPRA Consumer Service Manual currently governs the provision of multiple 11kV industrial connections at the same premises and imposes restrictions on such arrangements. In many cases, enhancement of load requires construction of a new grid station, a process involving significant time, heavy investment, and procedural complexities. This, he said, discourages existing industrial consumers from increasing grid-based electricity consumption and limits effective utilisation of the Industrial Incremental Consumption Package 2025.
According to GEPCO, DISCOs are witnessing a persistent decline in industrial demand due to rapid solarisation and increased reliance on captive power generation, resulting in surplus capacity within the distribution network. Although the government has introduced the Industrial Incremental Consumption Package 2025 to promote higher electricity offtake, the existing regulatory framework acts as a structural constraint on practical load enhancement by industries seeking to expand operations and benefit from the package during its three-year applicability period.
To promote incremental consumption and ensure efficient utilisation of surplus network capacity, GEPCO proposed amending the CSM to permit eligible B-3 industrial consumers to obtain multiple connections, subject to technical feasibility. These connections would require electrical segregation of loads, independent metering and protection, prevention of back-feeding, compliance with applicable Grid and Distribution Codes, and execution of required undertakings. Any system reinforcement costs, including right-of-way expenses, would be borne by the consumer.
GEPCO has requested NEPRA to consider the proposed amendment in the broader interest of industrial growth, power sector sustainability, and enhanced DISCO sales through effective utilisation of the Industrial Incremental Consumption Package. Ends
