By V L Srinivasan
Muscat, Feb 24 : Acting tough against erring power utilities for violating the prescribed health and safety audits, the Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) has issued 23 fines of RO500 each on Mazoon Electricity Distribution Co two days ago.
The company has been given four weeks to pay the fines and the money will be utilised to fund a health safety awareness campaign across the sultanate.
The fines were imposed after AER issued advance notices to three distribution companies - Muscat Electricity Distribution Co, Majan Electricity Distribution Co and Mazoon - in June 2009 under Article 116 of the electricity sector law that it would conduct random inspections of substations, feeder pillars and other network assets.
“If any installations were unlocked, not properly secure or otherwise in a condition that poses a risk to the health and safety of the public, the licensees were warned they would be fined RO500 for each infraction,” said AER's executive director John Cunneen. He added that AER officials would conduct a follow-up audit within three months and if a similar infraction is found at the same installation, the licensee would be fined RO1,000 and served with a breach of licence notice.
Cunneen said that they have also audited the installations of Muscat Electricity Distribution Co in February, whose results were under process. “We will also do an audit of assets owned by Majan Electricity Co next month and will decide if any action is required,” he told Muscat Daily.
The AER will conduct similar audits on a monthly basis throughout 2010, he added.
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