ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is under mounting criticism for imposing rigid appeal policies and exorbitant fees on consumers seeking reviews of regulatory decisions.
The backlash intensified following a dissenting note from Nepra Member (Tariff) Balochistan, Mathar Niaz Rana, who opposed the regulator’s decision to dismiss a review application by Karachi-based industrialist Muhammad Arif Bilwani. The application challenged issues in K-Electric’s power generation tariff but was rejected on technical grounds—primarily because Mr Bilwani was not deemed a direct party to the original proceedings and had only paid Rs1,000 instead of the required Rs934,722.
Mr Rana argued that this approach contradicts the spirit of the Nepra Act, which aims to ensure transparency, fairness, and public participation. He cited previous instances where similar reviews, including those from the federal government, were accepted under comparable conditions.
Calling for the reinstatement of the original Rs1,000 fee for public review motions, Rana emphasized that “procedural technicalities should not hinder public engagement in decisions that affect consumer rights.” He said Nepra’s current stance effectively restricts access to justice and shields tariff decisions from wider scrutiny.
Energy analyst Rehan Javed echoed these concerns, noting that the revised fee structure and procedural rigidity discourage public oversight while benefiting powerful stakeholders. He warned that such policies undermine accountability, inflate electricity costs, and allow inefficiencies to be passed onto the public.
Despite the dissent, Nepra’s majority decision ruled Mr Bilwani’s petition non-maintainable, citing non-qualification and insufficient fee payment.
Story by Khaleeq Kiani
