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 in Hyderabad.
A statement by NEPRA said that the fine has been imposed over HESCO’s negligence that led to casualties from July 2019 till October 2020.
It stated that 15 people died of electrocution during the said period.
“A three-member committee was formed to investigate cases of electrocution, and HESCO was found guilty of negligence in 12 out of 15 cases,” read the statement.
Five HESCO employees and seven citizens were killed due to HESCO’s negligence, it added.
SEPCO FINES
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.
