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NEPRA fines power firm Rs65m over fatal accidents

Penalises Islamabad Electric Supply Company on charges of negligence

Our Correspondent May 21, 2022

Experts say the Ministry of Energy, DISCOs, Nepra and other relevant stakeholders should deliberate on the proven next-generation technologies that have much more computing power and flexibility. Photo: File

ISLAMABAD:

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed a fine of Rs65 million on the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) on the charges of negligence, resulting in fatal incidents during the period July 2019 to June 2021.

On the receipt of reports of 39 deaths in different electrocution incidents during the aforementioned two-year period, Nepra constituted a two-member investigation committee under Section 27A of the Nepra Act 1997, said a statement issued by the power sector regulator on Friday.

The committee was tasked with visiting the respective areas, conducting investigation, ascertaining and determining the facts and possible violations of Nepra laws, rules and regulations.

The investigation committee’s report revealed that 25 fatalities out of the total 39 occurred due to Iesco’s negligence. These fatalities included 10 Iesco employees and 15 persons from the general public.

In the light of the probe, Nepra issued a show cause notice to Iesco on November 16, 2021 under Section 27B of the Nepra Act and later provided an opportunity of hearing to the power supplying company on February 3, 2022.

Based on the evidence available on record, submissions of Iesco and relevant provisions of laws, rules and regulations, Nepra observed that Iesco failed to discharge its statutory obligations to maintain the safety standards laid down in the relevant laws, code and manual.

The regulator imposed a fine of Rs65 million on Iesco while noting that the power company gave compensation to the tune of Rs3.5 million to the families of each of its employees who lost their lives in the electrocution accidents.

However, it observed that compensation of Rs750,000 was given to the families of some of the deceased from the general public but not all.

Nepra directed Iesco to compensate all the families of the deceased from the general public (15 persons) and offer the same amount as that given to the families of the deceased employees (Rs3.5 million each) as well as share the documentary evidence with the regulator.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21^st, 2022.

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