The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) granted the federal government's request for a Rs7.12 per unit increase in the power base tariff for residential users, who are already struggling with rising living costs.
The power regulator approved the federal government's application to increase electricity rates for household, business, general services, bulk, and agricultural users.
The basic pricing for residential users has been raised by up to Rs48.84 per unit.
However, domestic users consuming up to 200 units per month will be spared from the current increase for three months, from July to September 2024.
The updated prices for electricity for customers consuming 201 to 300 units per month will cost Rs34.26 per unit, an increase of Rs7.12.
Similarly, the standard pricing for those utilizing between 301 and 400 units would be Rs39.15 per unit, up Rs7.02, while those using 401–500 units will see a Rs6.12 increase, with per unit reaching Rs41.36.
For use of 501 to 600 units, Rs42.78 per unit would be charged after an increase of Rs6.12, while for consumption of 601 to 700 units, Rs43.92 per unit would be charged after an increase of Rs6.12.
For consumers using more than 700 units, the per-unit cost of power will be Rs 48.84, up Rs 6.12 from before.
Furthermore, the per-unit cost of power would rise in line with the tax slab.
The tax rate will stay intact for lifeline users using up to 50 units per month at Rs 3.95 per unit and at Rs 7.74 per unit for those using 51 to 100 units per month.
In the same ruling, the power regulatory body authorized rate increases for commercial, agricultural, general services, and bulk users.
The base pricing for commercial users was increased by Rs8.04, bringing it up to Rs77.15 per unit in July.
Following the change, the basic price for agricultural users now stands at Rs46.83 per unit, up Rs6.62 per unit, and Rs61.03 per unit for other services, up Rs6.98 per unit since July.
Bulk users will pay Rs59.96 per unit beginning in July, up from Rs5.51 per unit previously. However, the cabinet maintained the base power cost for industrial users.
The latest increase in power rates came after the Ministry of Energy sought to eliminate government subsidies, with the exception of lifeline, industry, and agriculture consumers, in order to bring financial sustainability to the energy sector by recovering the full cost of service through the implementation of an efficient tariff structure.