Power deficit of 2,500MW: UPS sales increase by 30%

[LahoreEstate]

By Razi Syed

KARACHI: The power supply deficit of around 2,500 megawatt during March 2009 has boosted the sales of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) by 30 percent, traders said Friday.

Only during the 20 days of March 2009, an increase of 10 percent has been witnessed in the sales as compared with the same period last year in March 2008, they added.

Due to the proposed higher power tariff and long hours of load shedding the domestic and commercial consumers prefer UPS rather than power generators.

“During May and November 2009, the power deficit will touch around 5000 megawatt, they added.

A wholesaler and member of M A Jinnah Road Electronics Market, A Aziz said the price of a UPS to light up two tube lights and two ceiling fans six hours, having 140 ampere per hour battery capacity now costs around Rs 19,500, while earlier it was available for Rs 15,500.

Despite an increase in the prices of UPS and imposition of regulatory duty on imports, the customers still prefer to purchase according to size of the power requirement, he said.

The average price also witnessed an increase of around Rs 3,500 as the manufacturers have increased their price on the pretext of higher production cost due to higher imports of accessories.

He said despite increase in prices, sales of UPS with a capacity of running two fans and two lights have gone up around 30 percent.

He said the commercial consumers prefer the locally manufactured UPS, but after an increase of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per unit on different ampere capacity, the sale of four fans and four lights has increased around 20 percent as compared to same period last year.

Aziz said the dealers also take fitting charges with a uniform rate of Rs 1,000 while the consumer has to arrange a battery depending on ampere power according to his energy needs.

He said battery prices vary depending on its power from around Rs 9,500 to Rs 14,500, which was earlier available at Rs 8,500 and above.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...2009_pg5_5