ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a show cause notice to K-Electric over excessive loadshedding in Karachi.
The investigation committee formed to probe into the matter of excessive load shedding submitted its report to NEPRA blaming the power company for the power crisis.
Subsequently, the regulatory authority has decided to proceed further and issued a show cause notice to K-Electric, after a public hearing a few days ago and a visit by an investigation team to Karachi.
In a statement, NEPRA said the investigation committee constituted to look into the excessive loadshedding in Karachi had submitted its report.
“In the light of findings of the investigation committee, the Authority has decided to proceed further and issue a show cause notice to K-Electric,” the regulator said in a brief statement.
The show cause notice was initiated under Sections 28 and 29 of the NEPRA Act and licencing rules for failing to ensure uninterrupted power supply to consumers and maintaining quality.
The authority has started the process for similar proceedings against two other power distribution companies of the federal government operating in Sindh.
NEPRA held public hearings into complaints against the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) and the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) over excessive loadshedding and overbilling.
Public hearings will be held against seven distribution companies including Hyderabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, tribal districts, Quetta, Lahore and Multan.
Chief executive officer HESCO Abdul Haq Memon said there was an average of five to six hours loadshedding while high-loss areas were receiving up to 12 hours of power cuts.
He said loadshedding was worked out on the basis of losses in different areas and unannounced loadshedding had been controlled.
Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh told NEPRA that loadshedding in HESCO and SEPCO has increased up to 18 hours. He thanked the regulator for holding a public hearing and suggested to launched an inquiry about their performance on the pattern of K-Electric.
This minister said he does not want to politicise the issue but an impression was being created in the province that the centre was not willing to provide electricity to Sindh.
HESCO officials said FIRs were not being registered on complaints against power theft and action was not being taken even if the cases were registered.
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