Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday slapped an Rs50 million fine on the Karachi Electric Limited (KEL) and directed the company to complete earthing and grounding of its distribution system in Karachi by April 2020.

The regulator further said that the power provider had failed to fulfill “its statutory obligation to maintain safety standards” in addition to violating the terms and conditions of its license as well as Nepra laws.

Scores of people died by electrocution during rains in Karachi in months of July and August this year.

Moreover, the power supply also suspended to several areas of the metropolis for long hours, NEPRA said in a statement.

A press release issued by NEPRA said that Karachi Electric has failed to fulfill its “statutory obligation to maintain safety standards”, and it has also violated the terms and conditions of its license, alongside violating the laws devised by NEPRA.

NEPRA served a show-cause notice to K-Electric, and the power distributor has been directed to submit a response, and conduct an internal inquiry into the matter.

According to the spokesperson of K- Electric, the ompany will submit a review with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) regarding the recent decision on the unfortunate incidents in Karachi. The power utility will review the report in detail and submit an appropriate reply. K-Electric is a law-abiding and responsible organization which ensures compliance with all respective regulations and guidelines and is committed to providing safe and reliable power supply to its customers.
There are a number of primary and underlying external factors which compromise the integrity of the power infrastructure. These include illegal kundas, unauthorized use of power infrastructure by cable TV and internet service providers and standing water around electricity infrastructure. These factors bypass electrical safety mechanisms thus creating public safety hazards. KE feels that these factors warrant serious attention.

The threat to public safety and increased accidents due to these factors are well-acknowledged in this region resulting in multiple drives to remove them from the power infrastructure. One example is to shift these cables underground.
Pursuant to the urban flooding caused by unprecedented rains, KE filed a Constitutional petition in the High Court of Sindh, in October, 2019. The petition cited as respondents, cable TV and Internet companies, the city administration, municipal bodies and concerned regulators. KE asserts that the power infrastructure is continuously being encroached upon by cable TV providers, and internet service providers. The power utility has requested that city administration and relevant civic bodies ensure that action is taken against encroachments in Karachi. KE has highlighted other vital components including swift drainage of rainwater around power infrastructure and support in combatting illegal connections and unwarranted use of the infrastructure.

KE continues to regularly conduct kunda-removal drives across the city and this year alone removes more than 200,000 kilograms of kundas. KE has initiated a net-work-wide study by a certified third-party contractor to identify opportunities for infrastructure improvement to further strengthen both reliability and safety of power supply. This includes grounding of electricity poles and clearing the power infrastructure of cable TV and Internet wires. The power utility has written to Commissioner Karachi, Chairman PEMRA, requesting that necessary measures be taken before the next monsoons to prevent water-logging and enable the power utility to provide the best service possible.