ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has cleared Punjab government-owned Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power (Pvt) Ltd (QATPL) of alleged violations tied to delays in restoring electricity during Pakistan’s January 2023 nationwide blackout, accepting the company’s explanation and closing the case without any penalty.
The regulator had accused QATPL of failing to follow grid operator instructions to synchronize its units on time during system restoration, delays it said slowed efforts to bring power back after the outage that left the country without electricity for nearly 20 hours.
Nepra launched proceedings in 2023 under its Fine Regulations, citing apparent breaches of the Nepra Act, generation licensing rules and Grid Code provisions governing system recovery and dispatch.
QATPL denied the charges, arguing that the synchronization timelines issued during the blackout applied to normal operations and not emergency conditions. The company said it lacks black start capability, the ability to restart without external grid support, and followed pre-approved restoration procedures agreed with authorities.
It also said any delays were already treated as forced outages under its power purchase agreement, warning that additional penalties would amount to double jeopardy. After reviewing written submissions and holding a hearing, Nepra found the company’s response satisfactory.
“In view of the above, the Authority decides to accept the response… and close the matter,” the order said.
QATPL was set up by the Punjab government in March 2015 as an independent power producer to build and operate a 1,180-megawatt RLNG-based plant in Bhikki, Sheikhupura.
The ruling ends regulatory proceedings stemming from one of Pakistan’s most significant recent power system failures.
