Iesco fined Rs4m for data manipulation, compliance failure
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday imposed Rs4 million fine on Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for manipulating data, its failure to maintain prescribed voltage levels and comply with other performance standards.
“This penalty has been imposed on Iesco for non-compliance of performance standards, particularly failure to maintain prescribed voltage levels, manipulating data regarding number of interruptions, duration of interruptions and number of complaints and failure to provide electricity connections within prescribed time,” the regulator announced here on Tuesday.
It said the fine was imposed under Nepra Fine Rules after field investigations, surveys and completion of a legal process in which the company was given the opportunity of defence.
Nepra fielded its team in 2017 that visited the company to assess its performance and verify the data submitted in Iesco’s Annual Performance Report for fiscal year2016-17. The regulator also conducted consumer surveys.
The team submitted a comprehensive report highlighting poor performance of Iesco with respect to different performance key indicators as prescribed under Nepra laws.
Based on the findings of the report, the regulator decided to initiate legal proceedings. After due legal course of action and providing ample opportunities of hearing, the regulator passed the instant final order.
Nepra concluded that prolonged unscheduled electricity outages for more than fourteen hours took place in different areas of Iesco during May and June, 2017. Transmission system constraint was the major reason for unscheduled power cuts, leading to voltage fluctuations. Voltages being received by the consumers in some areas were even below 180V — instead of prescribed 220V — causing damage to home electrical appliances.
Moreover, the regulator said that Iesco was not providing electricity connections despite payments made by applicants, with many applications pending since last six months. On questioning, Iesco also failed to give any satisfactory justification in this regard.
The regulator observed with concerns that Iesco manipulated data in its performance report for the year 2016-17, and that there was no proper mechanism for maintaining database particularly with respect to power supply interruptions and number of complaints.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018
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