1. Feeder-Based Load‑Shedding Scheme
PESCO divides feeders by electricity loss levels and applies different outage durations accordingly:
< 20% loss → ~2 hrs/day
20–30% → ~6 hrs
30–40% → ~7 hrs
40–60% → ~12 hrs
60–80% → ~16 hrs
> 80% → ~20 hrs
Urban areas typically endure 4–6 hrs/day, while suburban/rural zones may face up to 16 hrs or more due to higher losses.
2. Recent Reductions on High‑Loss Feeders
Starting summer 2024, PESCO temporarily reduced load‑shedding to 12 hrs/day on 75 of its highest‑loss feeders—including 13 in Peshawar, 27 in DI Khan, 18 in Khyber, 13 in Bannu, 3 in Mardan, and 1 in Swabi—to ease heatwave pressure while teams conduct anti‑theft operations.
3. Area‑Specific Notices & Maintenance
Dera Ismail Khan: As of June 1, 2025, some feeders (e.g., Gomal, Muniz Abad, Kotla Habib, University) now face up to 20 hrs/day; others range between 12–19 hrs of daily outages.
Peshawar (Nov 2024): Scheduled maintenance on various grid stations during line-specific windows (e.g., Kulachi, Taja Zai, Pabbi) led to planned outages from ~9 am–3 pm over selected days.
Shahi Bagh & Mardan (Feb 2024): Grid station maintenance caused shutdowns from ~9 am–5 pm, impacting specific feeders.
Swabi (Dec 2024): New schedule set Roshanpura and Kunda feeders for ~7 hrs/day, others for 6–10 hrs/day.
4. KP Government Intervention
In May 2024, after pressure from KP’s CM, PESCO agreed to reduce scheduled outages—limiting areas previously facing 22 hrs of cuts to 18 hrs, and those with 18 hrs reduced to 14 hrs/day—with monitoring and FIRs for violations.
How to Check Your Local Schedule
Use your 14‑digit PESCO reference number (found on your bill)
Input the reference or search by city/grid station to view your feeder’s specific ON/OFF intervals.
Summary
Outages are structured by feeder loss; urban areas usually see 4–6 hrs, rural areas up to 20 hrs/day.
75 high-loss feeders temporarily capped at 12 hrs during summer 2024.
Some areas (e.g., DI Khan, Swabi, Shahi Bagh) have custom schedules reaching up to 20 hrs/day.
The KP government insisted on reduced outages back in May 2024, but implementation is local.
For accurate timing in your area, always check via your PESCO reference on the CCMS portal.
PESCO’s Distribution Network: How It Works
** The Grid to Your Home**
PESCO manages electricity delivery through a layered system:
132 kV, 66 kV, and 33 kV sub-transmission lines and substations supply bulk power into local zones.
From these, 11 kV feeders branch out and connect to 440 V low-tension lines.
These feed into distribution transformers, which step down the voltage for homes, shops, and businesses.
This setup ensures reliable power reaches each consumer.
2. Administrative Hierarchy: Circles → Divisions → Subdivisions
PESCO’s operational structure is broken down into multiple levels to manage logistics, billing, and response efficiently:
Circles: The broadest units overseeing large geographic areas.
Divisions: Each circle contains many divisions.
Subdivisions: Further split from divisions for localized management.
According to available data:
It’s organized into 6 circles, with about 30 divisions and 143 subdivisions.
However, more recent sources point to 8 or 9 circles, spanning the entire province (except tribal areas), though administrative restructuring may have adjusted exact counts.
** PESCO’s Circles (Pre-2023 Bifurcation)**
Earlier, PESCO included the following circles:
Peshawar
Khyber
Mardan
Swat
Bannu
DI Khan
Swabi
Hazara‑I
Hazara‑II
3. Bifurcation: Creation of HAZECO
In 2023, PESCO was split to improve management and reduce losses:
HAZECO (Hazara Electric Supply Company) was carved out as a separate utility.
Now, PESCO comprises 6 circles:
Peshawar
Khyber
Mardan
Swat
Bannu
Swabi
HAZECO handles Hazara‑I and Hazara‑II.
4. GIS Mapping & Asset Management
Between 2010–2015, a USAID-funded GIS project mapped PESCO’s network comprehensively:
Over 16,500 km of 11 kV HT and 0.415 kV LT lines were cataloged.
19,403 transformers, poles, substations, and service connections were digitized.
This data supports load flow analysis, enables technical and non-technical loss assessment, and guides feeder rehabilitation.
5. Consumer-Level Services
At each administrative level:
Circles are headed by Superintending Engineers (SEs).
Divisions are managed by Executive Engineers (XENs).
Subdivisions are overseen by Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs), supported by Customer Service Officers (CSOs).
This structure helps in:
Faster response to outages
Local handling of connections and complaints
Streamlined billing and meter reading
6. Quick Summary Table
| Voltage Levels | From 132/66/33 kV down to 11 kV feeders → 440 V LT lines → consumer |
| Circles (Now) | 6 under PESCO post-bifurcation; HAZECO handles the Hazara region |
| Divisions & Subdivisions | ~30 divisions, ~143 subdivisions |
| GIS Mapping | Covered 16,500 km lines and ~19,403 transformers for loss analysis |
| Key Roles | SEs (circles), XENs (divisions), SDOs & CSOs (subdivisions) |
