- NEPRA admits companies to invoke the non-compliance of performance references.
- MEPCO was sentenced to a fine so as not to meet security and service standards.
- The regulatory body orders the complete landing of steel structures within three months.
Islamabad: fines totaling 63 million rupees have been imposed by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on several electricity distribution companies for violation of regulatory standards, citing non-compliance with performance benchmarks, security codes and consumer service obligations, reported The news.
In order not to meet the security and service standards described in its license, Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) was sentenced to a fine of RS13 million.
The penalty follows the inadequate response of the company to a notice of justification issued on August 30, 2023.
NEPRA has also ordered MEPCO to compensate for families of people who died with 4 million rupees each and to provide jobs to their closest, the benefits granted to the families of employees.
The company received two months to submit proof of compliance and has to pay the fine within 15 days to avoid new legal action.
The NEPRA has penalized several other electricity firms for security violations. MEPCO, Tribal Area Electric Supply Company (Tesco), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company Limited (Hesco) and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) were each sentenced to a fine of 10 million rupees for not having completely put the ground (HT ) and at low voltage (LT) Polish and structures.
Their responses to regulator surveys were deemed unsatisfactory.
The NEPRA ordered the complete landing of steel structures within three months and the PCC posts within one year, warning new penalties in the event of non-compliance.
Hesco was sentenced to a fine of 10 million rupees for having omitted to establish a management of health, safety and the environment, a compulsory requirement. The company must pay the fine within two weeks or face legal consequences.
The NEPRA has reiterated its commitment to enforce the regulations on security and services in order to ensure the protection of the public and the improvement of public services standards.
Failure to comply with these directives may lead to additional regulatory actions against non-compliant licensees.