Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday concluded a public hearing on a federal government motion with respect to the recommendation of a uniform consumer end tariff for XWDISCOs and K-Electric.

The hearing was presided over by NEPRA Chairman Tauseef H Farooqi while member Sindh Rafique Ahmed Sheikh attended through video link.

The federal government requested the regulator to increase the uniform base tariff in three phases. Under the uniform tariff, the government sought Rs7.91 per unit increase in base tariff for XWDISCOs and K-Electric.

In the first and 2nd phase, the government sought Rs3.50 per unit each hike in base tariff from July, August and September respectively.

In the first phase, the base tariff would be increased from 16.91 per unit to Rs18.98 per unit, in 2nd phase from Rs18.98 per unit to Rs22.48 per unit while in the last phase from Rs22.48 per unit to Rs23.39 per unit.

Similarly, in the third phase, a 91 paisa increase was sought in the base tariff from October. Joint Secretary Power Division Mehfooz Bhatti told the regulator that the government proposed to increase the base tariff of each category in three phase.

However, he said that there would be no increase for a lifeline and protected consumers. Despite the increase in tariff, the government would provide Rs220 billion subsidy to the consumers, he added.

He said that there would be no effect on around 50 percent of consumers on account of the tariff increase.

The chairman of NEPRA said that the cost of production of electricity has witnessed a 16 percent increase while the value of the dollar has also doubled against the Pakistan rupee.
The authority would announce its decision after reviewing statistics.