NEPRA slaps another Rs10m fine on NTDC

Fine imposed on account of partial blackout resulting from collapse of eight towers

ISLAMABAD:

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed a fine of Rs10 million on the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) on account of power supply failure and partial blackout. This was due to the collapse of eight tower – two towers of 500 kV on the Dadu-Jamshoro transmission line and six towers of 500 kV from Port Qasim Matiari – because of cyclonic winds and thunderstorms.

Moreover, evacuations of 1320 MW at Port Qasim (IPP) was also suspended due to the aforesaid reasons and the same was restored after nearly ten days, on May 31, 2022.

Earlier, Nepra took serious notice of the above incident and constituted an inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the matter in light of Nepra laws, rules and regulations. The Committee then presented a detailed report to the authority, on the basis of which the authority initiated legal proceedings against NTDC.

Subsequently, an explanation dated March 29, 2022 was issued to NTDC under Rule 4 (1) of the Nepra (Fines) Rules 2002, followed by a Show Cause Notice dated August 02, 2022, under Section 41 of the Nepra Act. However, NTDC failed to provide any response within the stipulated time.

Accordingly, exparte proceedings were initiated against NTDC, whereby NTDC was found guilty of violating the relevant provisions of the Nepra Acts.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2022.

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