While the consumers get no relief from prolonged power outages, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday approved an increase of Rs 1.07 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in the reference price of furnace oil-based power tariff for distribution companies (DISCOs) for the month of April.
The tariff was Rs 6.36 per kWh earlier. The new tariff of Rs 7.43 per kWh would be applicable across the board for all consumer slabs except lifeline consumers who use less than 50 units per month. The tariff will come into effect in June, when DISCOs would be collecting power bills for the month of May. The new tariff will, however, not apply to the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC).
The hearing for the petition on fuel charges adjustment for the month of April, sought by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) was conducted by the acting Chairman Shaukat Ali Kundi. Other than the increase in monthly fuel adjustment charges, the government also imposed a surcharge of 2 percent on power tariff applicable since March 15. In total, the surcharge on power tariff would be gradually increased to six percent by the end of the current fiscal year.