KE consumers to Face Rs 5:76 per Unit Increase

Staff Report: The electricity rates for Karachiites has been increased by Rs 5.76 per unit and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a notification in this regard.

As per details, this hike is due to a two-month fuel cost adjustment (FCA) covering May and June 2024.

The breakdown of the increase reveals that Rs 2.59 per unit has been added under the May adjustment, while an additional Rs 3.17 per unit has been imposed for June. These increased rates will be reflected in the electricity bills for October and November 2024.

NEPRA’s notification specifies that the positive FCA for May and June 2024 will apply to all consumer categories, with the exception of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) and lifeline consumers. The fuel charges adjustment will be itemized separately in consumer bills, based on the units consumed during the respective months.

K-Electric has also been directed to incorporate these adjustments into the billing cycles for October and November 2024, in strict compliance with court orders. The hike is in line with Section 31(7) of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997, as amended by the 2011 Act, and is part of the tariff adjustment mechanism established for K-Electric in 2018.

It is pertinent to mention that this increase is due to variations in fuel charges, and the burden will now be passed on to the consumers in Karachi, sparking concerns about the rising cost of living in the city.