Jan 2021 blackout: NTDC fined for its failure to supply

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has imposed a fine of Rs50 million on the National Transmission & Despatch Company (NTDC) for its failure to restore the power supply following the january 2021 blackout.
After a 20-hour long shutdown, NEPRA had constituted an inquiry committee to investigate the power plunge that occurred on January 9 and submitted the inquiry report to the authority.
Later on, the proceedings against NTDC were initiated based on the inquiry report.
A report said an explanation was called from NTDC the national grid operator on April 1, 2021, on the basis of the inquiry report under Rule 4(1) of the Nepra (Fines) Rules 2002. This was followed by a show-cause notice to the system operator on August 25, 2021, under Section 27B of the Nepra Act.
The regulator said it also provided an opportunity of hearing to NTDC on January 12, 2022, but it failed to provide any satisfactory response and was found guilty of violating relevant provisions of the Grid Code, hence the Rs50m fine. The regulator said it had also initiated legal proceedings against concerning power plants for their lapses, deficiencies, and failures in the said breakdown, which were currently under process and being dealt with separately.
Interestingly, a separate internal inquiry committee of the NTDC had absolved the NTDC of any fault and blamed the staff of Guddu Power Company. No NTDC officer/official has been found negligent for discharge of his duties, as the event which initiated this widespread breakdown was not in NTDCs system, rather it was in the 220kv switchyard of Guddu Old Thermal Power Station under the control of CPGCL (Central Power Generation Company Limited), said the NTDC`s inquiry report.