ISLAMABAD – The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved an additional charge of Rs1.75 per unit for state-owned distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric, effective over the next three months, to recover Rs43.23 billion through quarterly tariff adjustments.
This increase, set for the fourth quarter of FY 2023-24 (April-June 2024), comes after a public hearing on August 26, presided over by NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar. DISCOs had initially requested an additional Rs1.9 per unit, citing lower-than-expected sales during the period, partly due to load shedding in certain areas like PESCO.
Despite the hike, NEPRA rejected several requests from the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), including Rs51 million for legal expenses, as these were already covered under the Market Operation Fee (MoF).
The approved adjustment of Rs1.7432 per unit will apply from September to November 2024 to all consumers, except lifeline consumers. Additionally, NEPRA has directed DISCOs to refund Rs0.3692 per unit on September bills as part of the Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for July 2024.
Story by Zafar Bhutta
