Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: In a move that comes as a shock to the people, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has given its approval for an increase of Rs 1.25 per unit in electricity prices for consumers of distribution companies (discos). This increase is part of the third quarter adjustment for the financial year 2022-23.
According to NEPRA, the revised electricity prices will be applicable to bills issued during the months of July, August, and September 2023. The discos had submitted a request for quarterly adjustments, which NEPRA considered and held a public hearing on May 24.
Previously, consumers were being charged an average of 47 paisa per unit in quarterly adjustments until June 2023. However, with this approval, the increase will now amount to Rs 1.25 per unit for the specified three-month period.
It is important to note that this increase will be applicable to all Discos consumers, except for lifeline customers. However, it will not apply to customers of K-Electric.
NEPRA has granted approval for the third quarter adjustment of discos for the financial year 2022-23, which includes the Rs 1.25 per unit increase. The decision has been forwarded to the Federal Government for intimation and any necessary action under Proviso (ii) of Section 31(7) of the NEPRA Act, before its official notification by NEPRA.
The authority has authorized a positive quarterly adjustment of Rs 46,536 million for the third quarter of FY 2022-23, to be recovered from consumers over a three-month period—July, August, and September 2023. The specific rates for each category will be mentioned in the Schedule of Tariffs (SoT).
However, it should be noted that no quarterly adjustments will be passed on to Bi, B2, B3, and B4 industrial consumers in relation to incremental sales, in line with the Authority’s previous decision dated December 1, 2020.
While implementing the quarterly adjustments, the concerned discos are required to adhere to court orders, regardless of the NEPRA decision.
The increase in electricity prices for discos consumers has raised concerns among the public, who are already grappling with the burden of rising living costs. This development highlights the challenges faced by consumers in managing their household budgets and adds to the growing frustration over the escalating cost of utilities.
