LAHORE, June 11: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday formulated performance standards for all distribution companies (Discos) allowing consumers to claim a penalty ranging from Rs300 to Rs10,000 for each failure of the companies.

Sources in Nepra confided that a draft — National Electric Power Regulatory Authority Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2002 — has been prepared to give legal cover to these standards and be sent to experts, including Wapda, for comments.

The authority has formulated five Guaranteed Standards (GS) for ensuring performance by the distribution companies; as per GS-1, a Disco will be bound to restore supply within 10 hrs in urban, and 16 hrs in rural areas in case of unplanned cut off of power supply.

The GS-2 puts limits on unplanned power interruption; the service will not remain interrupted for more than 60 times per annum in urban, and 80 in rural areas (400/230 volts supply), 30 times for those connected on the 33/11 kV system, and six times for 66 kV and above voltage level.

The GS-3 says that unplanned interruption should not exceed 88 hrs in a year in urban areas (400/230 Volts), or 175 hrs rural areas (400/230 volts), 44 hrs for consumers getting supply from 33/11 kV, and 26 hrs for 66 kV and above voltage level.

The GS-4 stipulates that planned interruptions should not cross a limit of 12 times in a year (400/230 volts), six for those receiving supply at 33/11 kV and four times for 66 kV and above voltage level.

According to the GS-5, planned interruptions should not exceed 60 hrs annually in the case of urban areas (400/230 volts), or 72 hrs for rural areas (400/230 volts), 48 hrs for 33/11 kV lines and 36 hrs for 66 kV and above.

Discos will not plan interruptions before 6am in winter and 5am in summer. The consumers must receive a 48-hour notice for every planned interruption.

According to the schedule of penalty, a consumer getting supply at 132 kV and above would be able to claim Rs10,000 for each guaranteed standards’ failure, Rs2,000 for any additional six hour after GS1 or GS3 or GS5 failure. The consumer could also claim Rs2,000 for every interruption beyond the permissible limits after a GS-2 or GS-4 failure.

The consumers receiving 66 kV load would be able to claim Rs5,000, and Rs1,000 for the failures, and consumers on 33/11 kV will claim Rs500 to Rs1,000 for failures, and on (400/230 volts) Rs300, Rs200 and Rs200 respectively.