In a quarterly adjustment, the National Electrical Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) announced a Rs3.76 per unit increase in power rates.
According to the price rise notification, the Nepra consented to permit power companies to collect more than Rs46 billion from consumers in the third quarter of FY2023–24 during a three-month period, comprising June, July, and August 2024.
“In pursuance of Proviso (ii) to Sub-Section 7 of Section 31 of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 [...], Nepra hereby notifies the complete decision of the authority in the matter of requests filed by XWDISCOs for periodic adjustment in tarff for the 3rd quarter of FY 2023–24 already intimated to the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) on May 31, 2024.”
"The recovery would be made at a rate of Rs1.90/kWh, Rs0.9262/kWh, and Rs0.9262/kWh in the months of June, July, and August, respectively. The said hike will be applicable to all consumer categories, except lifeline consumers of XWDISCOs and K-Electric," Nepra said.
Regardless of this decision, the authority has instructed all relevant power distribution firms to keep the court directives in mind and carefully adhere to them.
The current increase in power prices puts extra strain on the already-inflation-hit population.
Previously, Nepra increased power tariffs by Rs2.83 per unit in March 2024 due to fuel charge adjustments.