NEPRA to take action against K-Electric for prolonged outages
Power utility says generation resources barely adequate to meet demand
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has decided to initiate legal proceedings against K-Electric over frequent breakdowns and extended load-shedding in May 2017.
According to the media, Nepra said in a statement, the prolonged load-shedding also continued in Karachi in the month of Ramazan. The regulator took notice of the events and sent letters to K-Electric for comments.
Major power breakdown hits Karachi again
Nepra took the decision after its team visited different areas of K-Electric, conducted a survey of consumers and inspected the record and log books of 132-kilovot grid stations.
It noted that consumers were experiencing prolonged unscheduled electricity outages for more than 16 hours a day in a number of areas.
It also observed that a weak and fragile distribution system was one of the reasons of unscheduled load-shedding and consumers were suffering due to voltage fluctuations.
On its part, K-Electric told Nepra that the company's generation resources, which included its own power plants, outside generation sources (independent power plants) and import from the National Transmission and Despatch Company, were barely adequate to meet the demand of consumers.
Its projects included six units at the Bin Qasim-1 plant, which due to their age were more prone to fault and tripping. It said gas availability and pressure had affected the overall generation, particularly the KGTPS and SGTPS (Korangi and Site gas turbine power stations) had been forced to operate at lower than available capacities due to low gas pressure.
K-Electric, however, said power generation was expected to improve by 2018 as the company had planned to add a new plant of 450 megawatts based on re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG).
In the statement, Nepra also pointed out that the Sindh High Court had directed the regulator on May 29, 2017 to ensure that K-Electric complied with the court instructions. In compliance with the court order and considering complaints of the general public and media reports, Nepra reviewed the implementation of its directives communicated on March 25, 2016.
In the directives, Nepra had told K-Electric to provide electricity for all consumers without any discrimination, who meet the eligibility criteria and are neither defaulters nor involved in electricity theft.
Criminal cases should be lodged against K-E, demands PSP
It also told K-Electric to provide accurate and timely information to the regulator and increase the generation capacity as well as improve the transmission and distribution system in accordance with the company's investment plans. K-Electric was also required to complete all indicated investment plans within the timelines and file quarterly reports to the regulator.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2017.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has decided to initiate legal proceedings against K-Electric over frequent breakdowns and extended load-shedding in May 2017.
According to the media, Nepra said in a statement, the prolonged load-shedding also continued in Karachi in the month of Ramazan. The regulator took notice of the events and sent letters to K-Electric for comments.
Major power breakdown hits Karachi again
Nepra took the decision after its team visited different areas of K-Electric, conducted a survey of consumers and inspected the record and log books of 132-kilovot grid stations.
It noted that consumers were experiencing prolonged unscheduled electricity outages for more than 16 hours a day in a number of areas.
It also observed that a weak and fragile distribution system was one of the reasons of unscheduled load-shedding and consumers were suffering due to voltage fluctuations.
On its part, K-Electric told Nepra that the company's generation resources, which included its own power plants, outside generation sources (independent power plants) and import from the National Transmission and Despatch Company, were barely adequate to meet the demand of consumers.
Its projects included six units at the Bin Qasim-1 plant, which due to their age were more prone to fault and tripping. It said gas availability and pressure had affected the overall generation, particularly the KGTPS and SGTPS (Korangi and Site gas turbine power stations) had been forced to operate at lower than available capacities due to low gas pressure.
K-Electric, however, said power generation was expected to improve by 2018 as the company had planned to add a new plant of 450 megawatts based on re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG).
In the statement, Nepra also pointed out that the Sindh High Court had directed the regulator on May 29, 2017 to ensure that K-Electric complied with the court instructions. In compliance with the court order and considering complaints of the general public and media reports, Nepra reviewed the implementation of its directives communicated on March 25, 2016.
In the directives, Nepra had told K-Electric to provide electricity for all consumers without any discrimination, who meet the eligibility criteria and are neither defaulters nor involved in electricity theft.
Criminal cases should be lodged against K-E, demands PSP
It also told K-Electric to provide accurate and timely information to the regulator and increase the generation capacity as well as improve the transmission and distribution system in accordance with the company's investment plans. K-Electric was also required to complete all indicated investment plans within the timelines and file quarterly reports to the regulator.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2017.