NEPRA fines KE Rs1m for safety lapse

Also orders power utility to pay Rs3.5m to a victim's familyQ

ISLAMABAD:

The country's power regulator has slapped a fine of Rs10 million on K-Electric (KE)—the power utility that supplies electricity to Karachi—for "lack of safety measures/culture" which resulted in the death of a person within its service territory during FY 2022-23.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) directed KE to pay the fine in the designated bank of the authority within a period of 15 days from the date of issuance of the order.

NEPRA further directed KE to give a compensation of Rs3.5 million to the family of the victim along with a job to the next of kin. "Further, the Licensee (KE) shall submit documentary evidence of its compliance in this regard to the satisfaction of the authority within a period of two months," it added.

On August 30, 2023, NEPRA had served a show cause notice to KE for violating performance standards, distribution code, power safety code, and other applicable documents after reporting of 33 fatal incidents within its service territory during FY 2022-23.

The company submitted its response on September 14, 2023. The authority considered the response of the licensee and decided to provide an opportunity for a hearing to KE that was held on May 13, 2024, wherein, the KE CEO along with his team made some submission to the authority.

In view of the submissions of the company, the evidence available on record, and provisions of relevant NEPRA laws and terms and conditions of distribution license issued to the licensee, the authority rejected the response of the KE.

After reviewing inquiry reports submitted by the company, the regulator noted that out of 33 fatalities, the fatality of Muhammad Aslam occurred due to a lack of safety measures/culture in the KE's service territory, as per the order issued by NEPRA on Wednesday.

After getting information pertaining to each case, NEPRA carried out an evaluation of all relevant records including the internal inquiry reports submitted by the licensee itself on the 33 fatalities.

As per the decision, the root cause of the accident was non-adherence to the safety SOPs, by KE. "The fatality of the victim could have been avoided if proper isolation of the HT/LT (high tension/low tension) system was ensured before executing the work.

"Further, the PQC (product quality control) staff of the KE did not supervise the site which led to the demise of the victim. Moreover, the execution of the work was carried out in an unplanned and haphazard manner which is also a reason for the occurrence of this fatal accident."

Nepra spokesperson said it found no negligence on KE's part in 32 out of 33 electrocution-related incidents that occurred in Karachi between July 2022 and June 2023.