ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday deferred its decision to increase electricity price for the month of November 2019 following a request by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA).
During the NEPRA hearing, the CPPA requested to postpone the proposed 98-paisa per unit hike in power tariff for the consumers of ex-WAPDA power distributing companies (DISCOs). The agency also advocated that it was not faced with financial problems and that all information in this regard was incorrect. However, it maintained, problems faced by the power sector were not a secret.
Speaking on the occasion, the NEPRA chairman said the authority would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the consumers’ rights, adding that NEPRA has so far not received any proposal regarding changing the mechanism of fuel charges adjustment.
As per details, 39.01pc of the total power in the month of November 2019 was generated through hydel source, while 27.31pc was generated with coal, 11.55pc with nuclear source, 9.34pc with local gas and 9.20pc with imported liquefied natural gas.
Earlier, the CPPA had requested the NEPRA to jack up the power price by 98-paisa per unit for ex-WAPDA DISCOs on account of fuel charges adjustment for November 2019.
It is pertinent to mention that NEPRA’s hearing on fuel charges adjustment for November 2019 was earlier scheduled to be held on January 29, 2020. However, this hearing could not happen and NEPRA issued another public notice for the hearing on the matter, informing all stakeholder and the general public that a hearing on fuel charge adjustment for the said month would be held in NEPRA headquarters on February 11 (Tuesday).
Competitive tariffs in line with the IEA, Paris can only bring wellness/prosperity, self-sufficiency in Pakistan. We have to take care of the Climate Change. Our existing fuel inputs should be compliant to the challenges be met of Climate Change.
Unless we have Renewables in our energy sector we cannot compete. The Government has declared incentives, support, for Renewables. Today HVAC is our need. Why because we are using fossil fuel in our energy mix, at a very high costs.
May I suggest to please issue new licenses of IPP to the Muncipality to provide electricity to the Electric Poles for lighting/illumination immune from KE, with its own Solar/PV illuminating the city and switched off at dawn early without failure. KE has no mechanism of putting Off Street Lights other than a switch of Rs.10-00 with a cable from the pole to switch On/Off the street Light. Is this the norm. We have seen the consequences of such switch and cable. KE had its own central switching I saw it with my own eyes. Please allow Discos to provide EV Charging stations from the Electric Pole with the PV/Solar mounted for EV. I suggest the Muncipality is the right platform to issue a license of DISCO for Car Charging Stations from the Poles, and emergency lighting, Street Light, Hospital Light, Disaster Managment Lighting, Fire Light etc., etc.
We wish your initiative is great for people of Pakistan. God Bless.