Performance standards for distribution companies notified

Islamabad (August 26th, 2026) - The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has issued new Performance Standards (Distribution) Regulations 2026, replacing the outdated Discos Performance Rules 2005. The new regulations introduce mandatory consumer compensation and heavier fines for distribution companies (Discos) that fail to meet strict deadlines for restoring power following blackouts, replacing faulty meters, addressing voltage fluctuations, providing new connections, and other essential services.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) will be established to assess Discos' performance more clearly and measurably. This shift in regulation is crucial as the privatisation process unfolds, providing prospective investors with the regulatory benchmarks against which Discos' performance will be evaluated.

The standards mandate the establishment of complaint centres at the circle level and consumer facilitation applications (CFAs) for direct communication with consumers. For planned outages, Discos must provide consumers with 48-hour advance notice through SMS, email, or other digital platforms. In the case of unscheduled outages affecting high-load industrial consumers and CPPs, utilities must issue 30-minute advance warnings and provide real-time restoration updates.

An exception exists for defence establishments, which will remain completely exempt from unilateral power cuts; such shutdowns can only occur through mutual and prior agreements. The new regulations also require Discos to conduct biannual consumer satisfaction surveys with an accuracy rate of up to 98pc.