The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has reportedly suffered a major financial loss, with electricity worth around Rs35.17 billion lost from its distribution and transmission system during the last fiscal year.
According to the latest Performance Evaluation Report (PER) for FY 2024–25 released by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), LESCO failed to meet its regulatory targets for reducing system losses.
The report states that nearly one billion units of electricity were lost due to widespread power theft and an aging, deteriorating transmission infrastructure. These technical and distribution (T&D) losses remain above the limits set by the regulator.
Despite ongoing enforcement efforts, including daily raids, arrests and registration of FIRs against those involved in electricity theft, the measures have not been sufficient to significantly reduce losses.
NEPRA’s findings indicate that LESCO continues to be a major contributor to the country’s growing circular debt. While some improvement in recoveries was observed in certain operational areas, overall inefficiencies and the poor condition of the power grid mean that billions of rupees are lost each year.
The regulator warned that continued system losses place additional pressure on the national treasury and increase the financial burden on law-abiding consumers who pay their electricity bills regularly.
