The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has issued a notification to increase electricity prices by 8 paise per unit for August, which will affect consumers across the country, including Karachi.
According to Nepra, this increase in electricity prices has been made under government policy guidelines and will also apply to K-Electric consumers. The notification issued stated that the additional amount will be recovered from consumers in October bills.
The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) had recommended an increase in electricity prices by 19 paise per unit in its application filed with Nepra as part of the August fuel price adjustment. The petition stated that during August, 102.94 billion units of electricity were supplied to the DISCOs while the cost was Rs. 7.50 per unit instead of Rs. 7.31 per unit.
According to the data, during August, the cost of generating electricity from local coal reached Rs. 12.01 per unit while that from imported coal reached Rs. 14.07 per unit.
Similarly, electricity generation from furnace oil was recorded at Rs. 33 per unit, from gas at Rs. 13.43 per unit and from LNG at Rs. 21.73 per unit.
According to officials, the cost of electricity imported from Iran was the highest at Rs. 41 per unit, while the cost of electricity generated from bagasse was Rs. 9.87 per unit.
According to energy experts, this increase is temporary in nature, but it will definitely put a minor financial burden on consumers. They say that if fuel prices remain stable at the global level, there are chances of a reduction in electricity rates in the coming months.
