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The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has taken decisive action by imposing fines of Rs. 25 million each on the National Grid Company and the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) after both institutions repeatedly failed to meet critical safety, compliance, and blackout recovery requirements.
The penalties come at a time when Pakistan’s power system has faced multiple nationwide blackouts over the past few years, raising serious questions about operational preparedness and grid stability. Nepra said the violations stem from long-delayed safety protocols, incomplete operating procedures with dozens of power plants, and weak planning for restoring electricity during system-wide failures.
Pakistan has experienced severe power breakdowns in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Each time, delayed synchronization of power plants and unclear procedures slowed the country’s recovery. Nepra’s latest orders indicate that, despite repeated reminders, both agencies failed to finalize essential safety documentation and black start mechanisms designed to bring the grid back online quickly after major outages.
Nepra stated that more than one-third of the mandatory operating procedures with power plants remain unsigned, even years after deadlines. The regulator rejected attempts by both organizations to deflect responsibility onto power producers, noting that dispute-resolution channels are already built into power purchase agreements.
In a firm statement, Nepra said,
“Black start protocols are already part of existing contracts and do not require additional payments. Delays in executing these procedures directly compromise national grid security.”
The authority criticized both companies for conducting black start tests only after legal proceedings began, calling their conduct evasive and damaging to the reliability of the transmission system.
Each agency must pay the Rs. 25 million penalty within 15 days or face recovery through land revenue mechanisms. Nepra said this enforcement action is meant to ensure operational discipline so that future blackouts can be managed swiftly and safely.
