Nepra slaps Rs25m fine on K-Electric over 2023 blackout failures

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday fined K-Electric Rs25 million for operational lapses during the massive nationwide power breakdown of January 2023, holding the utility responsible for internal deficiencies and failures.

The penalty followed a detailed inquiry that found K-Electric’s explanations “unsatisfactory and unacceptable,” according to Nepra. The regulator said the utility failed to justify internal faults in its own system and could not shift full blame to the National Grid.

Investigators also found that KE’s Black Start capability — a crucial system designed to independently restart generation after a total blackout — failed when it was needed most. “Technical flaws in KE’s Black Start plants remained unresolved, and repeated trippings during the blackout exposed weaknesses in existing safety mechanisms,” Nepra said in its findings. The company has been directed to deposit the fine within 15 days.

Pakistan plunged into one of its worst nationwide outages on January 23, 2023, leaving millions without power for hours and disrupting businesses, daily life, and essential services from Islamabad to Karachi.

A K-Electric spokesperson, reacting to Nepra’s decision, said, “The imposition of a penalty on K-Electric for the power breakdown in January 2023 caused by a disturbance in the NTDC system is surprising.” The spokesperson added that the company “is currently reviewing the Honourable Authority’s detailed decision and will determine the future course of action accordingly.”