ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf has directed Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to take steps for maximum recovery of outstanding dues by end of December. Chairing a high level meeting of PEPCO and DISCOs to review the performance of the power companies, the minister expressed concern over slow recovery from the consumers by some power distribution companies. He directed DISCOs to reduce line losses and speed up their recovery campaign with rigorous efforts on war footing. He said that all CEOs would be held responsible for outstanding arrears. He added strict disciplinary action would be taken against non-performers while efficient performers would be rewarded properly. Detailed briefing by each DISCO was given to the Minister on their performance, line losses, recovery position and load management. The Minister asked PEPCO and DISCOs to confront the situation with rationale mechanism to recover the old electricity bills from the consumers and improve their performance by reducing line losses and non-development expenditures by adopting austerity measures. He asked them to take all the necessary measures to improve and enhance the efficiencies in order to put the DISCOs in a sound financial position. The meeting also reviewed the current power situation and load management in the rural and urbana areas. It was observed that water releases are reduced due to annual canal closure from 20,000 cusecs to 13,000 cusecs at Tarbela and from 20,000 cusecs to 5,000 cusecs at Mangla and generating capability is reduced to 8,000 MW. The meeting noted that the power system is facing a shortfall of about 3,000 MW. The same situation will continue till January 2009, it was further noted. The CEOs were directed that there should be no unscheduled load management and asked to announce the load management plan in their respective jurisdiction. He also directed PEPCO to devise a sustainable strategy to handle the prevailing energy crisis for reduction in the load shedding duration.