The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a show-cause notice to K-Electric over unannounced and prolonged load-shedding in Karachi. The notice demands a response within 15 days, warning of a Rs. 200 million penalty, with a daily Rs. 100,000 fine for continued non-compliance.
Read NEPRA show cause notice to K-Electric here
K-Electric has faced increased public scrutiny after months of forced outages across Karachi. Areas previously unaffected by load-shedding are now experiencing frequent power cuts. Complaints surged during a recent Fuel Cost Adjustment (FCA) hearing, where residents raised concerns directly to NEPRA.
The NEPRA show cause notice K-Electric directive refers to NTDC guidelines, which cap load-shedding at a maximum of 30%. It emphasizes maintaining a scheduled distribution plan across all consumer categories, including residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.
The authority also questioned K-Electric’s practice of feeder-level shutdowns in areas reporting electricity theft, which has affected regular bill-paying users. NEPRA has challenged the legality of this strategy.
K-Electric’s ongoing Rs. 600 million project—launched in June 2021—to install theft-mitigation meters and transformers was intended to prevent feeder-level blackouts. However, full feeder outages continue despite this deployment.
NEPRA’s notice directs K-Electric to submit a detailed load management and power distribution strategy immediately or face regulatory action.
