Quick Answer: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has banned K-Electric (KE) from switching off entire feeders in Karachi over electricity theft or unpaid bills by some consumers. The regulator says paying customers cannot be punished for the failures of others, and has ordered KE to target individual defaulters instead.
What NEPRA Has Ordered
NEPRA issued a prohibitory order directing K-Electric to immediately stop unannounced, unscheduled, and excessive load shedding across Karachi. The order specifically bans the utility from cutting power to an entire feeder on the basis of Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses — a practice NEPRA says has no legal backing and unfairly penalizes regular, bill-paying households.
The decision follows a wave of consumer complaints raised during NEPRA’s monthly Fuel Price Adjustment (FCA) hearings, which prompted the regulator to formally investigate K-Electric’s load-shedding practices.
Why This Matters for Karachi Consumers
- Paying consumers protected: Households and businesses that regularly clear their bills will no longer lose electricity because a neighbour on the same feeder is stealing power or defaulting.
- Targeted action against theft: NEPRA has instructed KE to disconnect individual connections involved in theft or non-payment, rather than switching off entire feeders serving dozens of households.
- Repeat violation: This is not the first time NEPRA has taken action — KE was previously fined Rs50 million (April 2024) for similar violations and had not meaningfully changed its practices since.
- Technical fix ordered: KE has also been directed to install Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC) to physically reduce technical and commercial losses, and to submit an implementation plan.
Background: A Recurring Complaint
Karachi residents, particularly in high-loss areas, have long complained about “collective punishment” load shedding, where an entire feeder — sometimes covering 25–30 transformers — is cut off because a portion of consumers on it are defaulters or involved in electricity theft. NEPRA has issued similar directives before, including a 2025 show-cause notice requiring KE to restrict outages to the pole-mounted transformer (PMT) level rather than the wider feeder level. This latest order reinforces that stance with a formal ban.
What Happens Next
K-Electric is required to submit its compliance plan, including the rollout of anti-theft technology and its ABC cable installation schedule. NEPRA has signalled it will continue monitoring KE’s outage patterns through its public hearings process, where consumer complaints are formally recorded.
FAQs
Q: Can K-Electric still cut power to a whole feeder?
No. Under this NEPRA order, KE cannot switch off an entire feeder to punish theft or non-payment by some consumers. Action must target individual defaulters.
Q: What should I do if my area still faces feeder-wide load shedding?
Consumers can file a complaint with NEPRA through its consumer complaint portal or during its monthly public hearings, citing this order.
Q: Has K-Electric been penalized before for this issue?
Yes. NEPRA previously fined K-Electric Rs50 million in April 2024 for similar discriminatory load-shedding practices.
Q: What alternative measures has NEPRA ordered instead of feeder-wide cuts?
NEPRA has directed KE to disconnect individual theft/default connections and install Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC) to reduce technical and commercial losses.
Reporting based on NEPRA’s official order and statements reported by Pakistani news outlets. This article will be updated as K-Electric responds or as NEPRA issues further directives.
