Provincial power regulator bill passed

The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill for the establishment of a power generation, transmission and distribution authority which will also determine the tariff within the province. After the 18 Amendment, the provincial governments are authorised to regulate electric services. During the session chaired by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, the opposition and treasury members joined hands and called it a gigantic effort when Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh moved Sindh Regulation of Electric Power Services Bill 2023.

"It is beneficial to ensure effective participation of the province of Sindh in the supply and distribution of electricity within the province through provincial grid to ensure the development of the renewable and indigenous resources of Sindh at the costeffective terms for the benefit of consumers," the preamble of the bill said adding that the effective regulation is being done through sovereign rights vested in the province conferred under Article 157 (2).

According to the law, the government will establish Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) that will consist of a chairman and three members to be appointed in accordance with the provision of the Act. The members shall be designated as member technical and development, member legal and corporate and member finance policy. However, the chairman shall be appointed through a search committee for a period of four year and be eligible for re-appointment for one more term only.

Regarding the functions of the authority, the law said that it has to grant, issue, notify, enter, renew and cancel licenses for the electric power services and regulate the electric power services within the Province of Sindh. The power authority will also determine the terms and conditions of the supply including tariff, rates, charges and regulate the inter-province, transmission of electricity and develop, undertake and approve the electric power services without any financial limit.

The law further said that the authority will also adjudicate upon disputes between the licensees and will impose and collect fees, fines and penalties etc. "Sindh has been blessed with energy resources, including coal, solar, and wind, with cost-effective access through air, land, and sea routes. These resources could be utilised for the generation of electricity, which could be wheeled through the transmission network of Sindh Grid Company to meet the demand of household, commercial, and industrial consumers of the province at affordable prices," Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh while speaking on the bill said.

During the session, the kidnapping for ransom also dominated the proceedings of Sindh Assembly as opposition MPA Nand Kumar Goklani who belongs to Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) moved his call attention notice inquiring about the number of kidnapping cases in the province.

"The dacoits in katcha areas of Sindh have challenged the writ of state. More than 40 people are still hostage with the criminals in Ghotki, Shikarpur, Kashmore and other districts of Sindh. What action has been taken by the provincial government against the gangs operating in these areas," he said.

Shaikh responding said that the provincial government has launched the operation in katcha areas and the situation will come to normalcy soon. "Out of a total 116 hostages, we have recovered 99. The police and law enforcement agencies are working hard to recover the rest of the people from the captivity of dacoits," he said.