Another reduction in electricity tariff for May in the offing

• Power tariff also reduced from Rs4.92 to Rs7.6 per unit for April.
• Consumers to get Rs4.12 per unit reduction in May electricity bills.
• Benefits of fuel price reduction to be provided to masses: minister.

After the federal government’s announcement for a reduction in electricity rates in April, power authorities are likely to give another relief to consumers next month in terms of electricity bills.

A petition has been submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for slashing fuel cost adjustment from Rs2.94 to Rs4.92 per unit for May compared to April, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Power Division on Tuesday.

The consumers would get Rs4.12 per unit reduction in their electricity bills for the month of May compared to March.

The power tariff for April was also reduced from Rs4.92 to Rs7.6 per unit compared to March, the statement further said.

Owing to the efforts of the government, the request for reduction in electricity bills has been submitted to Nepra for the third consecutive month, it added.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Energy Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said that benefits of reduction in fuel price would be provided to the masses.

Reduction in April's power bills

In a much-needed relief to inflation-stricken people, Leghari announced earlier this month that the electricity prices for April’s power bills have become cheaper compared to the last month.

“The per unit price of electricity fell by Rs3.83 in the month of April. The overall reduction is due to the quarterly and fuel price adjustments in dollar terms,” the minister stated in a statement last week.

He had said the fuel price adjustment has been reduced to Rs4.92 from Rs7.6 for the current month of April and the quarterly adjustment has come down to Rs2.75 from Rs4.43.

“Electricity bills have witnessed a decline of Rs1.68,” Leghari had added..

Explaining the method to calculate the cost of electricity prices, the energy minister had said fuel price adjustment calculates the cost incurred on generating power in a month.

The minister had detailed that Nepra would fix “reference tariff” for 12 months at the beginning of every year, and set fuel price adjustment on a monthly basis.

In case of an increase in fuel expenditures for electricity generation, the national exchequer would suffer losses if the additional amount is not charged from the consumers, Leghari had said.