Consumers to face hike in Electricity bills in March 2023
The consumers of Power distribution companies (Discos) are set to face hike in electricity bills in March 2023.
The Nepra on Tuesday indicated to increase power tariff of Rs 0.48 per unit for Discos consumers except KE.
The power regulator also indicated that KE consumers would face an increase of Rs 1.71 per unit in electricity bills in March.
However, the good news is that KE consumers could also enjoy a relief of over Rs 7 per unit in electricity bills on account of quarterly adjustment. Check KE Duplicate Bill in 2023 | How To Check Online
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) grilled NTDC management on Tuesday for mismanaging the transmission line to evacuate electricity from Thar coal projects and trying to charge power users Rs 80 billion.How to Check IESCO Bill Online?
NTDC was criticised during a power regulator public meeting to consider raising electricity rates for all power distribution companies (Discos) except K-Electric.
NTDC management asked Nepra to shoulder a Rs 5.4 billion financial burden for failing to evacuate Thar coal power project energy during the public hearing.How to Pay MEPCO Bill Online?
However, Chairman Nepra grilled the NTDC management and asked why consumers, who were already paying high energy bills, should bear the company’s mismanagement.
He blamed company incompetence for transmission line project failure.How to check FESCO Bill Online
Chairman Nepra predicted that NTDC would pass on Rs 80 billion to consumers over three to four months due to its failure to evacuate power from Thar coal projects.
Chief finance officer (CFO) that NTDC was borrowing to pay off loans.
He asked consumers shoulder Rs 5.4 billion.
He asked that Rs 13 billion in pending claims be verified and recovered from consumers. NTDC also penalised IPPs, he added.
If power regulator disallows Rs 5.4 billion, it will put company at greater risk.
Due to rupee depreciation and covid situation, contractors quit the job, according to NTDC.
Due to the covid situation, material was unavailable, delaying project’s completion.
Chairman Nepra and other Nepra officials said the reason was unjustified because all other Pakistani projects were on schedule except the NTDC transmission project.
They blamed NTDC incompetence for the project delay.
Nepra justified the delay with a Monday deadline. Nepra would not disallow the sum otherwise.
Kapco provided 2.7 GWH energy at Rs 46.50 per unit during Pakistani blackouts.
Further, Kapco’s Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) expired in October 2022 and no new deal was signed.
Chairman Nepra was also alarmed that electricity was taken from a plant without a power purchase deal.
Kapco had only a working grid and helped restore electricity. Chairman Nepra said regulator ordered IPPs to execute inquiry report recommendations.
No IPP followed those suggestions. IPPs were also violating working procedures.
The nepra also requested a report.
Tariff Increase for Discos customers
Nepra held a public meeting on January DISCO fuel charge adjustments at its headquarters.
Nepra informed the public meeting that fuel adjustment for January raises power tariffs by Rs 0.48 per unit.
Chairman Nepra Engineer Taseef H. Farooqui oversaw the public meeting.
Nepra members Engineer Rafiq Ahmed Sheikh, Engineer Maqsood Anwar Khan, Muthar Niaz Rana, and Amna Ahmed attended the meeting.
CPPAG requested a Rs 1.17 FCA rise.
Nepra said the increase could reach Rs 0.99 per unit if prior adjustments are included.
Nepra said it will last one month.
Nepra said this applies to DISCO customers except Lifeline and electric car charging stations.
Nepra added that the authority will make a thorough decision after reviewing the data.
KE Tariff
The public meeting at Nepra headquarters covered K Electric’s January 2023 fuel charges and the second quarter adjustment for 2022-23.
Nepra reported a fuel change of Rs 1.17 per unit for January 2023.
Nepra said K Electric requested a second quarter revision of Rs 7.36 paise per unit for FY 2022-23.
Nepra said K Electric requested a Rs 2.70 FCA rise for January 2023.
Nepra said January’s FCA rise was Rs 1.71 unit. Nepra said only March bills will apply.
Nepra said this applies to all K Electric customers except Lifeline and electric vehicle charging stations. The authority will make a thorough decision after reviewing the data.
In January 2023, KE sought an increase of Rs 2.69 per unit.
K-Electric spokesperson said the quarterly adjustment for October-December 2022 requested a Rs 7.366 per unit decrease.
According to K Electric spokesperson, quarterly adjustments do not impact consumers under the uniform tariff policy, but the Ministry of Energy, Government of Pakistan, and Nepra Authority make the final decision.
