The National Electrical Power and Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has imposed a fine of Rs31 million on Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) over the deaths of citizens due to electrocution death during July 2019 and October 2020 in Hyderabad.
After receiving reports of 15 deaths in electrocution incidents, NEPRA constituted a three-member investigation committee under Section 27A of NEPRA Act 1997, tasking it to visit the areas identified, conduct investigations, and ascertain the facts involving possible violations of NEPRA laws, rules, and regulations. According to the investigation, 12 out of the total 15 fatalities occurred due to HESCO’s negligence. These fatalities included five HESCO employees and seven individuals from the general public.
Last month, NEPRA imposed a fine of Rs28 million on Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) on charges of negligence resulting in fatal incidents during the period July, 2019 to November, 2020.
NEPRA upon receipt of reports of 20 deaths due to different electrocution incidents during July 2019 to November 2020, constituted a three-member investigation committee under Section 27-A of NEPRA Act 1997 to visit the relevant areas, conduct investigation and ascertain the facts and possible violations of NEPRA laws, rules and regulations. The investigation committee’s report revealed that 11 out of the total 20 fatalities occurred due to SEPCO’s negligence. These victims include 4 SEPCO’s employees and 7 persons from the general public.
Therefore, the authority issued a show cause notice to SEPCO under Section 27-B of the NEPRA Act, 1997 and later provided an opportunity of hearing to SEPCO. Based on the evidence available on record, submissions of SEPCO and relevant provisions of the laws, rules and regulations, the authority concluded that SEPCO has failed to discharge its statutory obligations to maintain safety standards as laid down in the relevant code and manual. Further, SEPCO failed to report these fatalities to the authority in a prescribed manner as envisaged under NEPRA Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005.