ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has imposed a fine of Rs. 5 Million on Karachi’s electric supplier K-Electric Limited on “account of its failure to provide reliable power supply to consumers of Karachi on a nondiscriminatory basis”, ARY News reported on Thursday.
According to a statement released by NEPRA, K-Electric Limited was fined due to non-compliance of performance standards, distribution code and direction of the authority regarding provision of electricity to all consumers without any discrimination.
Pursuant to media reports regarding prolonged hours of load shedding by K-Electric during the month of Ramadan in 2017 and direction of Honorable Sindh High Court to NEPRA to ensure compliance with NEPRA’s order to provide electricity to all consumers on non-discriminatory basis, the authority had constituted a committee to verify facts and implementation of the order.
The committee visited the generation, transmission and distribution facilities of K-Electric from June 1, 2017 to June 5, 2017, in order to monitor and verify load shedding in different areas of Karachi, current generation capacity of K-Electric and its utilization, number of interruptions/faults and implementation of investment plans.
As the committee submitted a comprehensive report to NEPRA, it raised serious concerns on the performance of K-Electric and the authority decided to initiate legal proceedings against K-Electric.
“The Authority observed that different units of Bin Qasim Power Station-I tripped frequently during the month of May, 2017 owing to improper maintenance by K-Electric. In addition, a huge number of unplanned interruptions of prolonged duration occurred due to K-Electric’s weak and fragile distribution network. All this cumulatively resulted in extended load shedding, ranging from 14 to 16 hours in Karachi during the month of May, 2017,” reads the statement released by NEPRA.
NEPRA claims K-Electric was given chance to explain the irregularities and a show-cause notice was also issued to the company.
“Two opportunities of hearing were also provided, wherein, the representatives of K-Electric made their submissions, however failed to provide any satisfactory response to the alleged violations,” the statement concludes.
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