Power companies seek to charge Rs1.8 per unit more
While still reeling under the prolonged application of last year’s Rs135 billion worth of quarterly adjustments, the ex-Wapda distribution companies (Discos) have come up with a fresh claim of another Rs22.6bn for the first quarter of FY24 to be charged to consumers across the country at the rate of about Rs1.8 per unit. The requests have come amid over prevailing over 31pc rate of inflation which suggests that official estimates of declining inflationary trends might not be as forthcoming as electricity and gas rates have a major contribution to the price baskets. In their separate tariff petitions, Discos have pushed to raise about Rs22.6bn from their consumers in three coming months under quarterly tariff adjustment (QTA) for the July-September period. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has accepted the respective tariff petitions and called public hearings on Nov 14 to see if the proposed increase in tariff is justified in line with the quarterly tariff adjustment mechanism. The quarterly adjustments for Discos are now automatically applicable to KE’s consumers as well as per recent decisions of the government and the regulator.