Summary NEPRA reserves its decision on a Rs2.56 per unit electricity hike under September's fuel adjustment, with consumers facing a potential additional burden of Rs32.66 billion.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has reserved its decision on a request to increase electricity prices by Rs2.56 per unit under the September fuel price adjustment, potentially transferring an additional burden of Rs32.66 billion to power consumers across the country, including Karachi.
During the hearing, officials of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) informed NEPRA that the average fuel cost of electricity stood at Rs10.02 per unit in September, against an estimated cost of Rs7.46 per unit.
According to the CPPA, the total cost of electricity generation during September amounted to Rs127.87 billion. Electricity generated from local coal cost Rs7.95 billion, while power production through imported coal amounted to Rs37.14 billion.
The cost of electricity generated through diesel stood at Rs13.26 billion, while furnace oil accounted for Rs11.81 billion. Electricity production through local gas cost Rs13.89 billion.
CPPA officials further informed the authority that electricity generation through liquefied natural gas (LNG) incurred a cost of Rs31.93 billion. Meanwhile, power distribution companies (DISCOs) collectively sold 12.76 billion units of electricity during the month.
The Power Division maintained that the September fuel price adjustment was feared to reach Rs5 to Rs6 per unit. However, various measures, including two hours of load management, helped limit the proposed increase to Rs2.56 per unit.
It is pertinent to mention that the Central Power Purchasing Agency had already submitted a request to increase electricity prices by Rs2.56 per unit under the September fuel price adjustment.
