NEPRA imposes Rs 26m fine on Fesco
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has imposed a 26 million fine on Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
The regulator imposed a fine on charges of negligence resulting in fatal incidents during the period July 2019 to January 2021.
It had received reports of 17 deaths in different electrocution incidents during this period.
It formed a two-member Investigation committee and tasked it to visit the relevant areas of incidents to reach conclusion.
The committee investigated to find out the facts and possible violations of NEPRA Laws, Rules, and Regulations.
The Investigation Committee’s report revealed ten out of the total seventeen fatalities occurred due to FESCO’s negligence.
These fatalities included eight FESCO employees and two persons from the general public.
Therefore, the Authority issued a Show Cause notice to FESCO on 29.06.2021. It issued a notice under Section 27B of the NEPRA Act, 1997.
Later it provided an opportunity of hearing to FESCO on 15.09.2021.
The regulator had received the evidence available on record, submissions of FESCO, and relevant provisions of the laws, rules, and regulations.
The Authority concluded that FESCO has failed to discharge its statutory obligations to maintain safety standards as laid down in the relevant laws, code, and manual.
The Authority has thus, fined FESCO a fine of Rs. 26 million. The Authority has also noticed that FESCO has given compensation of Rs. 3.5 million each to the families of its employees who lost their lives in these electrocution accidents.
But, the company had not given any compensation to the families of two deceased persons from the general public.
The Authority has, therefore, directed FESCO to compensate the families of the deceased from the general public equal to the amount given to its deceased employees’ families (Rs. 3.5 million each).
It further directed to share documentary evidence with the Authority.