Double whammy for consumers as NEPRA approves Rs4 hike in power tariff amid prolonged loadshedding

• Rs3.99 increase will put a burden of around Rs58.5b on consumers.
• Decision has been taken on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for April 2022.
• The amount will be charged with the bill of June 2022.

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Monday increased the power tariff by Rs3.99 per unit on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for April 2022 amid worsening power outages across the country.

According to a notification issued in this regard, the FCA for April 2022 will be charged with the bill of June 2022, which will be paid by all consumer categories of all 10 distribution companies, except for lifeline and K-Electric consumers.

The Rs3.99 increase will put a burden of around Rs58.5 billion on consumers, including GST.

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The said adjustment shall be shown separately in the consumers’ bills on the basis of units billed to the consumers in the month of June 2022 by the XWDISCOs.

“XWDISCOs shall reflect the fuel charges adjustment in respect of April 2022 in the billing month of June 2022,” the notification read.

It is worth mentioning that earlier this month, the regulatory body had raised the basic power tariff by Rs7.9078/kWh for the next fiscal year 2022-23 increasing the burden of inflation on the people of Pakistan.

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The decision had been taken in line with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demands and the power distribution companies’ requests. Currently, the basic power tariff is Rs16.91 per unit and with an increase of Rs7.9078 per unit, it will be more than Rs24 per unit.