The power minister’s pledge to ‘bring transparency to the power sector’ is at odds with the government’s policies, which not only disregard their own laws but also undermine the authority of the power regulator, Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority).
The minister’s endorsement of revenue-based load shedding, despite Nepra’s notices to Discos for such practices, has a direct impact on consumers. This ‘collective punishment’ approach, initially seen in Karachi and later adopted by other Discos with federal government backing, was previously deemed illegal by the regulator. It was explicitly stated that penalizing all consumers for the actions of a few contradicts the provisions of the Nepra Act, 1997, and Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005.
Despite the minister’s unwavering stance, it is essential to acknowledge Nepra’s viewpoint on at least one matter. Suppose the government persistently pursues a path conflicting with the Nepra Act, as evidenced by the regulator imposing substantial fines on Discos. In that case, it should consider amending the act instead of flouting it.
The issue at hand is not confined to the immediate context. The contradiction could have been averted if Discos were in a better state, a condition that could have been achieved if the energy ministry had promptly addressed mismanagement, incompetence, theft, and corruption within the Discos instead of burdening honest consumers. If the government persists in a system where law-abiding consumers subsidize the transgressions of others, it is crucial to enact legislative modifications to legitimize this practice.
Furthermore, the situation in areas with low losses warrants attention. The revelation that electricity supply to certain category 1 and 2 feeders, characterized by minimal losses, has been disrupted due to “technical faults and maintenance purposes” is concerning. The prevalence of cuts in feeders under various distribution companies due to “technical incompetence” underscores systemic issues in the power sector.
Evidently, the power sector’s state of disarray, fueled by unchecked corruption contributing to the circular debt, remains a pressing concern. The energy ministry’s persistent recourse to “penalizing honest consumers” as the primary solution underscores the lack of proactive measures to address underlying challenges.
The inevitable conflict with Nepra underscores the inadequacy of the government’s approach to resolving systemic issues. As consumers brace for what is projected to be the hottest summer on record, the prospect of enduring severe load shedding looms, reflecting the government’s failure to offer viable solutions to the populace.
