In yet another blow to the credibility of K-Electric (KE), Pakistan’s sole privatized power utility, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a show-cause notice over repeated violations of grid code regulations and forced, unjustified load shedding practices that continue to punish paying consumers.
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NEPRA stated that KE has consistently failed to comply with its directives regarding load shedding protocols, particularly the requirement to segment up to 30% of its connected load into switchable blocks—a condition mandated by the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) to maintain national grid stability. These plans were supposed to be documented and shared with NTDC, but KE’s non-compliance triggered regulatory action.
The regulator expressed serious concerns over KE’s illegal load management based on Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses—a practice that unfairly punishes entire areas with prolonged power outages due to electricity theft or non-payment, even if many residents in those areas pay their bills regularly.
“This is a clear violation of the NEPRA Act and Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005,” said a NEPRA spokesperson, confirming that a Rs 50 million penalty has already been imposed on KE following legal proceedings earlier this year.
NEPRA reiterated that load shedding should be conducted at the Pole Mounted Transformer (PMT) level, not across entire feeders, and only when absolutely necessary—such as in cases of generation shortfall or NTDC-issued instructions.
Adding to the outrage is KE’s Rs 600 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project, which promised precision-level disconnection capabilities and targeted load management. While KE has enjoyed commercial gains from the AMI system since its completion in late 2021, NEPRA says the utility has failed to utilize the technology for consumer relief, choosing instead to continue broad-based outages.
Karachi residents have echoed these concerns during public hearings, accusing KE of “brutal, unfair, and discriminatory” load shedding—even in neighborhoods with high bill recovery and low theft rates.
With this latest regulatory crackdown, KE’s disregard for fair energy distribution, consumer rights, and grid compliance is under full public and legal scrutiny. NEPRA is now awaiting KE’s formal response, which may determine whether more severe penalties or even structural reforms will follow.
