Ministry establishes high-powered unit with intelligence officers to combat power theft in SEPCO

ISLAMABAD: In a significant move to strengthen efforts against power theft, the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has officially established a Distribution Company (DISCO) Support Unit (DSU) in the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) to combat power theft.

According to a notification from the Ministry of Energy, the DISCO Support Unit includes representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI), Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), local police, and SEPCO officials. The unit, led by SEPCO’s Chief Executive Officer, will report directly to the Secretary of the Power Division.

The Power Division issued a notification on January 9, 2025, regarding the establishment of DSU to combat electricity theft and enhance recoveries. The DSU has been constituted with a two-year mandate to assist SEPCO in its anti-power theft campaign. 

The unit comprises a multi-disciplinary team under the following structure:

1.   Chief Executive Officer (SEPCO) as the Director.
2.   Sector Commander Civil Armed Forces (CAF) as Co-Director.
3.   Nominee officers from the Commissioner Sukkur and DIG Sukkur, both in BS-18, as Members.
4.   Officers in BS-18/19 from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Military Intelligence (MI), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as Members.

Additionally, the DSU is authorised to co-opt administrative and police officers in BS-18, to be nominated by respective Commissioners and DIGs within SEPCO’s jurisdiction. This collaborative approach reflects a firm commitment to tackling corruption and inefficiencies in the power sector, particularly in SEPCO’s jurisdiction.

The unit’s mandate includes recommending the dismissal of corrupt officials involved in power theft or financial irregularities. It will work on expediting recoveries and taking decisive action against electricity theft, a persistent issue contributing to annual losses of nearly 40% in SEPCO due to theft and technical inefficiencies.

With approval from the Federal Cabinet, the DSU has been assigned five core objectives, including reducing non-technical losses through administrative intervention. Law enforcement agencies will provide full support to the unit when needed, ensuring smooth operations.

The DSU’s core objectives include expediting the recovery of dues and implementing anti-power theft initiatives. The unit will directly report to the Secretary of the Power Division while working under SEPCO’s operational framework.