Islamabad:
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has earned a message of showing reason at K-ELECTRIC (KE) of non-compliance with its instructions relating to forced load.
The regulator pointed out that KE had resort to load load based on total technical and commercial (AT&C) losses that violate the Nepra Act and the results of performance standards (distribution), 2005.
According to the authority, distribution companies (Diskos) are required to maintain plans and schedules to throw up to 30% of their connected load at any time following instructions from National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC).
This load must be divided into separate, changing blocks that can be disconnected from NTDC. Copies of these plans must be shared with NTDC.
NEPRA emphasized that NTDC, where possible, should give distribution companies a warning of impending load connection to help maintain system voltage and frequency in accordance with the grid code.
NTDC is also responsible for instructing distribution companies on the specific amount to be disconnected and the timing using clear and unambiguous communication based on approved plans.
Earlier, on January 8, 2025, NEPRA issued an explanation to KE in accordance with Rules 4 (1) and 4 (2) in the NEPRA (Fine) regulations, 2021, with reference to non -compliance with its directives.
The regulator stated that KE had implemented load load based on AT & C-loss, which violates the NEPRA Act and the rules of performance standards (distribution), 2005.
In this practice, entire feed is closed with commercial losses such as sixty-the-theft and lack of payment-in-hours, even when some consumers on these feed are fully over and regularly pay their bills. “Nepra considers this unfair to consumers.”
In response to this practice, the authority had initiated and completed litigation, resulting in an RS50 million penalty of KE.
“NEPRA continues to emphasize that load load must only be performed on rod-mounted transformer (PMT) level and only when necessary-as in the event of a generational deficiency or transmission restrictions and only under instructions from system operators.”
Meanwhile, KE launched a project in 2021 to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automed Meter Reading (AMR) system at distribution transformer level that costs RS600 million.
The project aimed to identify energy loss due to theft and non -payment and facilitative commercial benefits. KE also claimed that these meters would enable remote connection and transformer level interruption. The project was completed in December 2021 with a test run completed through June 2022.
Nepra reviewed the project’s items, reports and KE submissions and found that although the company has gained commercial benefits of the AMI/AMR system, it has not used the technology to provide relief to consumers by performing targeted stress at the PMT level despite the ability to do so.
During public hearings on monthly adjustments to fuel costs (FCA), Karachi residents also complained to excessive and unreasonable load, strengthening NEPRA’s concerns.
A KE-spokesman regarding NEPRA’s notice of the show reason said: “KE is currently reviewing the message of the show reason received from NEPRA. After a comprehensive review, we will submit our response in accordance with the timeframe set by the authority.”
