Taichung Power Plant, a major electricity supplier in Taiwan, was fined a record of 20 million new Taiwan dollars (about 650,000 U.S. dollars) by the local government on Monday, after its wastewater discharge exceeded the limit for the third time.

It was the highest penalty ever given to a public enterprise for violating environmental protection regulations in the island.

Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau ordered the plant, a subsidiary of Taiwan Power Company (Taipower), to pay the fine before May 15 and submit a plan for improvements by the end of the month.

The bureau said it took and tested samples of wastewater from the power plant from January to March, and found the plant's nitrate nitrogen level exceeded the limit every time, with the highest exceeding the limit twice-over.

Taipower said it respected the decision of the Taichung city government and would submit the improvement plan before the deadline, adding that power output of the four generators at the plant had been cut by half as of April 10.

Taipower noted that it would do its best to protect the environment while ensuring a stable electricity supply.