NEPRA approves Rs1.8 per unit power tariff hike

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved an increase of Rs1.80 per unit in the tariff for all power distribution companies for January 2019.

The tariff was revised upwards on account of fuel cost adjustment as the cost of fuel went up while consumers got electricity at lower tariffs. Power distribution companies will include the tariff hike of Rs1.80 per unit in next month’s electricity bills and will collect an additional Rs13.5 billion from the consumers.

The tariff adjustment will, however, not be applicable to the lifeline consumers, who consume up to 50 units a month, and K-Electric consumers.

At a public hearing of a petition filed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) on behalf of the distribution companies, NEPRA was informed that liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal-based power plants were not operated in January, which burdened power consumers with an additional cost of Rs6.7 billion.

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