NEPRA allows Rs1.11 per unit fuel adjustment in October billing

NEPRA has told power consumers that an extra Rs1.11 per unit will appear on October electricity bills because fuel costs rose. The additional burden totals Rs16 billion across all consumers. The adjustment reflects August, when the actual fuel charge was Rs8.21 per kilowatt-hour against a reference of Rs7.10.

The adjustment covers all consumer categories of the ex-WAPDA distribution companies and K-Electric, except lifeline users, EV charging stations and prepaid customers on prepaid tariffs. It also applies to consumption under the Incremental Consumption Package. Distribution companies must show the amount separately on bills, and any amount missed in October bills can be recovered in the following billing month.

According to a K-Electric press release, the Sindh High Court has suspended NEPRA Appellate Tribunal tariff orders and related NEPRA notifications on the company's multi-year tariff for FY2024 to FY2030, on an interim basis. KE's counsel argued that the regulator could review tariffs but not set a fresh one, calling the revised tariff financially unworkable. NEPRA's counsel countered that the authority holds the statutory mandate to determine K-Electric's tariffs.