ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a show-cause notice to K-Electric (KE) for failing to comply with its directives on forced load-shedding, accusing the utility of violating the NEPRA Act and the Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005.
NEPRA stated that KE has been carrying out load-shedding based on Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT\&C) losses, resulting in entire feeders being shut down—even where some consumers are fully compliant and pay their bills on time. “This practice is unjust to law-abiding consumers,” the authority noted.
According to regulations, distribution companies must follow pre-approved plans that allow up to 30% of connected load to be shed only upon instructions from the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC), with proper coordination and advance notice.
Previously, on January 8, 2025, NEPRA had issued an explanation notice to KE under Fine Regulations 2021, following similar non-compliance. Legal proceedings concluded with a Rs50 million fine imposed on the utility.
Despite installing a Rs600 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system—completed in 2021—KE has failed to utilize this technology to implement targeted, fair load-shedding at the transformer level.
Public complaints during NEPRA’s hearings on fuel cost adjustments further highlighted growing frustration over prolonged and unfair outages across Karachi.
In response, a KE spokesperson said, “We are reviewing the show-cause notice and will submit a detailed response within the stipulated timeframe.”
Story by Zafar Bhutta
