Hydel generation rises to 5,000 MW, eases load shedding pressure

Hydropower generation has increased to 5,000 MW during peak hours since April 17, easing pressure on the power system and reducing load management, the Power Division said.

Officials said higher water releases from dams, aligned with provincial requirements, enabled the rise in hydel output, particularly during peak night hours.

The Power Division added that an additional 400 MW supply from the southern region has supported grid stability and improved electricity availability in central areas.

As a result, no load shedding was carried out during peak night hours on April 17, 18 and 19, while on April 20, most distribution companies limited outages to one hour. However, GEPCO and SEPCO implemented up to two hours of load management.

Despite the improvement, LNG-based power plants with a combined capacity of 5,500 MW remain non-operational due to fuel shortages. Around 500 MW is currently being generated from the Balloki plant using indigenous gas.

The Power Division said load shedding linked to electricity theft and system losses will continue across distribution companies, describing it as separate from peak load management.

The issue remains under discussion, with authorities warning that removing revenue-based load shedding could increase circular debt by around Rs400 billion. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has declared the practice illegal and imposed penalties, while the Ministry of Law and Justice has termed it a violation of fundamental rights.