ISLAMABAD: The Nati­onal Electric Power Regu­latory Authority (Nepra) on Friday imposed a fine of Rs26 million on Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) on charges of negligence, resulting in fatal incidents during July 2019 to January 2021 period.

In an announcement, the regulator said it had taken notice of reports of 17 deaths in different electrocution incidents during the said period. It constituted a two-member Investigation Committee under Section 27A 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 committee’s report revealed that 10 out of the total 17 fatalities occurred due to Fesco’s negligence. These fatalities included eight Fesco employees and two persons from the general public.

The regulator, therefore imposed a fine of Rs26m on Fesco. It said the company had given compensation of Rs3.5m each to the families of its employees who lost their lives in these electrocution accidents but not to the families of two deceased persons from the general public.

The regulator, therefore, directed Fesco to compensate the families of the deceased from the general public equal to the amount given to its deceased employees’ families and documentary evidence of payment be submitted to Nepra.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2021