K-Electric faces resistance over proposed fuel adjustment charges

While hearing K-Electric’s request for up to Rs18.6 per unit additional fuel cost recovery from its consumers for the past nine months, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday directed the Karachi-based power utility to ensure that the Matric and intermediate students do not suffer because of power outages. During a public hearing presided over by Nepra’s Sindh member, Rafique A. Shaikh, major consumer groups and trade bodies pleaded that no monthly, quarterly or annual tariff increase be allowed to K-Electric until consumers get the benefit of about Rs75 billion payable to them but blocked by the utility through stay orders. The consumers also challenged the locus standi for provisional fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for nine months based on unapproved base tariff and questioned a few fresh items claimed in the adjustment, like working capital, etc, not allowed under the law.