Nepra okays Rs1.83 per unit increase in electricity tariff.

ISLAMABAD -- The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday allowed Rs1.83 per unit increase in electricity tariff under monthly fuel adjustment for electricity consumed in September to generate Rs24 billion revenue to ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos).

The decision was taken at a public hearing presided over by regulator's member Punjab Saifullah Chattha and attended by member Balochistan Rehmatullah Baloch. The additional fuel cost would be charged to consumers in the coming billing month i.e. December. The increase is not applicable to K-Electric and lifeline consumers using less than 50 units of other Discos.

The Central Power Purchase Agency (CPPA) had sought an increase of Rs2.97 per unit under fuel price adjustment for the month of September for Ex-Wapda Discos. The CPPA said that since the actual generation cost amounted to Rs5.81 per unit against a reference price of Rs2.84 per unit, the Discos should be allowed to recover another Rs2.97 per unit from consumers in the coming month.

The monthly public hearing was first held on October 30 but the regulator had rejected the petition saying it could not allow Rs7.7bn cost of furnace oil based generation charged to consumers when cheaper sources were available in the system. It had called for plant-wise details of available capacity across the generation system and how the furnace oil based plants made up to the economic merit order.

CPPA - the petitioner on behalf of all Discos of ex-Wapda - on Tuesday submitted plant-wise data. The regulator said that since the petitioner had submitted the required data very close to the revised hearing schedule, it would...