Nepra imposes two million rupees fine on K-Electric

Khudayar Mohla
ISLAMABAD, (TLTP) : K-Electric has been asked to pay fine of two million rupees over failure to restore power supply within the prescribed time frame as well as ensuring safety of public in Karachi more than a year ago.
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) said in a statement on Wednesday that it has imposed penalty of two million rupees on K-Electric over non-compliance of performance standard on October 30, 2017.
Nepra has sought detailed report from K-Electric in response to media reports that Karachi remained without electricity due to tripping of almost 700 feeders during rainy weather on June 28, 2017 and onwards, which resulted in long power supply outage ranging from 24 hours to 48 hours in almost 50 percent of Karachi. Further, fatal injuries to public were also reported due to electrocution.
K-Electric was also asked to inform the Nepra that what preventive and corrective measures were taken in addressing the situation.
Submitting report in the matter, K-Electric revealed that almost 600 feeders on June 28, 2017 and as many as 400 feeders on June 29, 2017 were tripped for longer duration due to 30mm rain.
Nepra stated that in view of the poor state of affairs on part of K-Electric, the Authority decided to initiate legal proceedings and after due process of law, the Authority passed the final order on October 30, 2018.
“The Authority has observed that Karachi has suffered prolonged unscheduled electricity outages for more than twenty four (24) hours in different areas of Karachi on 28.06.2017 and onwards. Weak and fragile distribution network was the major reason for such unscheduled power cuts which could not withstand few millimetres rain and K-Electric failed to resume the power supply within prescribed time period”, said in the statement.
The Authority has further observed with concern that people were electrocuted and died due to poor maintenance of distribution network by the K-Electric. This indicates that KE’s network is full of safety hazards and there is no mechanism to develop safety culture and rectify safety hazards so that public lives can be saved during such emergency situations.
“Keeping in view the non-compliance of Performance Standards, the Authority decided to impose a fine of Rs. 2 Million on K-Electric under NEPRA Fine Rules’, statement concluded.