Maximisation of relief in Gas Load Management Plan for Balochistan Rawalpindi: Thursday, November 26, 2015 Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has revised the gas load management plan for consumers throughout Balochistan to ensure optimum relief is provided to domestic consumers’ adverse weather and escalating winter season.
The new policy came after the provincial chief minister and chief justice of Balochistan High Court made strong recommendations to the utility provider for supply of gas to local inhabitants in sufficient volume during evening hours.
Gas Suspension Timing Adjusted for Public Benefit
According to the revised schedule, gas supply will be stopped from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 5 a.m.
Previously, the shutdown period kicked off at 10 p.m., which was problematic for families that cook or heat with gas well into the night.
With the change in commencement, SSGC believes that delaying the opening of sales by two hours will assist consumers with their late-night cooking requirements; offer better temperatures for heating and thus ease life for families that are dependent heavily on the use of gas heaters.
SSGC authorities said the move came after calls went through wide-ranging public opinion while observing winter and its consumption pattern. The aim is to balance off low supply resulting from inadequate rain with high seasonal demand, and also keep consumer hardship at the minimum, the company said.
Winter Stability Will Be Strengthened Further, Assures Officials
The company sources said additional measures were also under consideration to ensure uninterrupted supply during early morning and evening peak hours of consumption. The utility is watching real time gas pressure, supply into the region and load to avoid untold outages on the coldest days of winter.
Officials also said the updated schedule would be re-evaluated on a regular basis, and further modifications may come as a result of sudden demand spikes, changes in weather and for public convenience.
Effect on Daily Life Throughout Balochistan
Revised gas offline scheduling will likely see millions of users across the province benefit. Gas will now be available to households 24 hours in a day during the:
- Dinner preparation hours
- Early winter nights
- Evening heating requirements
The move has been warmly welcomed by residents, who have described it as “a relief” to those suffering the cold conditions throughout the region this winter.