The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) is facing operational disruptions after its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system remained offline for seven consecutive days, affecting the issuance of essential materials required for new electricity connections. The technical issue has interrupted several internal processes, preventing LESCO offices from releasing equipment such as transformers, electricity meters, poles, and other materials needed for installation work. As a result, consumers applying for new electricity connections are experiencing delays, while other services that depend on the availability of these materials have also been affected. The outage has highlighted the operational impact that technical disruptions can have on utility services that rely heavily on digital systems for day to day operations.
According to reports, the disruption began after LESCO recently updated its ERP software as part of an initiative to modernize and digitize its material management system. The ERP platform had been introduced to replace manual processes with a paperless workflow, allowing the company to manage inventory, approve material requests, and issue equipment more efficiently. However, a technical fault reportedly emerged following the software update, leaving the system unavailable for an extended period. Because the ERP platform is responsible for processing and managing material issuance, LESCO offices have been unable to release the equipment required for field operations. Reports also indicate that officials have not yet resolved the technical issue, resulting in continued interruptions to operational activities that depend on the affected system.
The prolonged outage has also prevented LESCO staff from preparing material release orders, an important step in supplying equipment for electricity infrastructure projects and consumer connection requests. Without access to the ERP system, field teams cannot receive the required materials needed to complete installation work, creating delays throughout the service delivery process. The disruption extends beyond new electricity connections, as several consumer related functions rely on timely access to transformers, electricity meters, poles, and supporting infrastructure managed through the ERP platform. Since the system serves as the central mechanism for inventory management and material allocation, its continued unavailability has affected coordination between administrative offices and operational teams responsible for delivering electricity services across LESCO’s network.
LESCO had implemented the ERP system following approval from its Board of Directors and senior management as part of broader efforts to improve operational efficiency through digital transformation. The platform was designed to streamline material management, reduce paperwork, improve inventory visibility, and accelerate the issuance of equipment required for maintenance and connection activities. The current technical fault, however, has temporarily interrupted those objectives by limiting access to critical operational functions. Until the ERP system is fully restored, consumers seeking new electricity connections may continue to experience delays in material allocation and installation services throughout LESCO’s operational areas. As one of Pakistan’s major electricity distribution companies, LESCO supplies electricity to Lahore and surrounding regions while providing essential services including electricity distribution, metering, new connections, and other consumer related functions, making the timely restoration of the ERP platform important for resuming normal service operations.
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