NEPRA rejects Rs2.07 per unit increase in electricity tariff

Islamabad: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Wednesday refused to approve Rs2.07 per unit increase in electricity tariff in terms of July’s fuel charge adjustment (FCA).

People are protesting against the excessive electricity costs all throughout Pakistan in an effort to compel the government to provide relief.

For the July fuel charge adjustment (FCA), the power firms asked the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) to increase the electricity cost by Rs2.07 per unit.

In this regard, the NEPRA heard the argument that the percentage of power generated in July came from thermal resources, including 37.18% from coal, 14.68% from coal-fired power plants, 1.98% from furnace oil, and 1967% from LNG.

Nuclear fuel generated 14.29% of the local power at a rate of 7.61%, producing 14.388 billion units of energy. While the reference cost was set at Rs6.89 per unit, the production cost was recorded as Rs8.96 per unit.

However, the call for an increase in electricity costs continued to enrage the NEPRA administration.

The information provided by the CPPA did not satisfy the authorities.

The CPPA officials were told to provide accurate information by the NEPRA Chairman.

He insisted that customers of power would not bear the cost of inaccurate data. “Why wasn't the investment strategy that Nepra approved implemented?" NEPRA, the chairman, questioned.

The NEPRA authorities would investigate the technical difficulties separately, he continued.

Furthermore, the chairman committed to protect the populace from the fallout from technical issues. The hearing about NEPRA's bid to raise the cost of power has ended.

Meanwhile, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) began looking into the problem of overbilling on defective and slow-speed electricity meters earlier this month.

Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Siraj Ul Haq on Tuesday announced a countrywide strike against the inflated electricity bills on September 2.

Siraj Ul Haq expressed his gratitude for his campaign against the exorbitant power bills in a video message that quickly gained popularity on social media. He also praised trade associations, the business community, students, attorneys, and other individuals.

He declared that Jamaat-e-Islami's strike to shut down businesses will be nonviolent. No encirclement or arson will take place, he added. 

Furthermore, He made fun of the caretaker administration, claiming that it was not their responsibility to raise electricity prices.

Siraj Ul Haque stated that the caretaker government's obligation is to hold elections within 90 days. He also remarked that the interim administration should hold elections and transfer power to elected officials.

JI Ameer urged the populace to make all necessary preparations so that the strike for their rights would be effective.