NEPRA Raises Electricity Tariffs by 20 Paisas Per Unit

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has announced a 20-paise per unit increase in electricity tariffs. This adjustment is part of the quarterly adjustment for the first quarter of the current fiscal year and will result in an additional burden of Rs1.18 billion for consumers.

According to the NEPRA notification, the tariff hike will only be applicable for December 2024. Lifeline and prepaid electricity consumers, as well as users benefiting from the winter package for additional electricity usage, will be exempted from this adjustment.

This follows the recovery of the final quarterly adjustment from the last fiscal year, amounting to Rs1.74 per unit, which concluded in November 2024. The July to September quarterly adjustment had been finalized earlier and submitted to the government.

In a related development, NEPRA concluded a hearing on December 10 regarding K-Electric’s claims for unrecoverable dues against chronic defaulters for the years FY17 to FY23. Consumers highlighted several issues during the hearing, reflecting challenges faced by residents and businesses in Karachi.

K-Electric defended its claim of Rs68 billion, accumulated over seven years, emphasizing that these dues are crucial for the company’s financial stability. The utility noted that the costs, reviewed by internal and external audits, are part of the Multi-Year Tariff framework and independent of electricity rates charged under the uniform tariff policy.

K-Electric reiterated its non-involvement in the national circular debt, a fact recognized by international institutions. The company warned that disallowing legitimate claims could impact its cash flow and hinder infrastructure development for improved power supply to Karachi.

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