The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has come under fire for charging hefty fees to consumers seeking appeals and reviews of its regulatory decisions, sparking concerns about accessibility and fairness.
According to a news report by Dawn, the controversy emerged after a dissenting note was issued by Nepra’s Member (Tariff) for Balochistan, Mathar Niaz Rana, who opposed the regulator’s decision to reject a review application from Karachi-based industrial consumer Muhammad Arif Bilwani.
Bilwani had raised concerns about the weaknesses in the matter of K-Electric’s power generation tariff, but his request was dismissed on technical grounds.
The regulator argued that Bilwani was not a party in the original proceedings and had paid only a nominal Rs1,000 fee, rather than the Rs1 million fee required for an appeal.
However, in his dissenting note, Rana highlighted that Nepra had previously allowed similar review requests, including those made by the federal government. He argued that the Nepra Act, which aims to protect consumer interests and ensure transparency, should provide an accessible and affordable mechanism for the public to challenge decisions.
Rana criticised the regulator for restricting public participation through procedural technicalities and called for a minimal or no-cost process to encourage public engagement.
The controversy surrounding Nepra’s fee structure highlights growing concerns over public access to justice and accountability in regulatory processes. With calls for reform, critics argue that the current system risks shielding monopolies and increasing the financial burden on consumers.
