What is a Maintenance Shutdown?

Unplanned power cuts due to electricity shortages, often caused by high demand, fuel shortages, or grid imbalances. In Karachi, K-Electric and SSGC (for gas shortages) implement load shedding during supply gaps.

A power distribution line that delivers electricity from substations to homes/industries. Karachi a total of 2,129 feeders; some are “high-loss” and face more outages, while “low-loss” feeders experience low outages.

A unit of power equal to 1 million watts. Karachi’s total power generation capacity is ~3,500 MW (K-Electric reports), but demand often exceeds supply.

A smaller unit: 1 kW = 1,000 watts. Household electricity use is measured in kW (e.g., a 1kW AC runs for 1 hour = 1 kWh on bills).

According to K-Electric’s Annual Report of 2023, the power utility company has a capacity of 3,500 MW.

Demand: Peaks at ~3,800+ MW in summer, causing shortfalls.

Karachi Areas with Low Feeder Maintenance (Fewer Outages)

These areas have reliable infrastructure and lower outages:

DHA/Clifton (Low-loss feeders, priority supply).

Gulshan-e-Iqbal (select sectors).

PECHS/Defence.

Corporate Zones (e.g., I.I. Chundrigar Road).

High-loss areas (e.g., Orangi, Lyari) face frequent shutdowns due to theft/aging lines.

News Report: Analysis of Maintenance Shutdowns in Karachi's Power Feeders

An analysis of maintenance shutdowns across the city's power feeders has revealed critical insights into the frequency and duration of outages, highlighting areas most affected by disruptions. The data, extracted from monthly maintenance reports, provides a comprehensive overview of the city's power infrastructure challenges.

Feeder with the Most Maintenance Shutdowns (by Days)

The Clayton Quarters feeder recorded the highest number of maintenance shutdowns, appearing in the records for five different days (March 6, April 6, June 13, June 14, and June 20). This indicates repeated maintenance work in the metropolis.

Feeder with the Most Maintenance Shutdowns (by Hours)

The Cattle Colony RMU feeder experienced the longest cumulative shutdown duration. On April 6, it was shut down for 9 hours and 30 minutes, and on November 6, for 9 hours and 32 minutes, totaling 19 hours and 2 minutes of maintenance. This suggests significant operational challenges in this area.

Monthly Maintenance Shutdowns

In the month of June 2025, a total of 120 feeders were shut down for maintenance across the city, with multiple feeders shutdown several times during the month.

Districts Most Prone to Maintenance Shutdowns

The districts with the highest frequency of maintenance shutdowns include:

Defence Area: Feeders like Defence-10 and Defence-12 appeared multiple times in the records.

Korangi Industrial Zone: Industrial feeders such as Pipe Factory and Cattle Colony RMU were frequently shut down.

Central Karachi: Areas like Clayton Quarters and Gulzar-e-Hijri also featured prominently.