K-Electric wants hike in power tariff by Rs5.27

KARACHI: K-Electric, the sole power distributor in Karachi, has asked National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to raise power tariff for the metropolitan by Rs5.27 per unit.

The public hearing for a plea from K-Electric for increase in power tariff was held under the chair of Chairman NEPRA Tauseef H Farooqi.

The NEPRA shared that the power utility has sought an increase in tariff under fuel adjustment charges claiming that it had to use expensive LNG instead of being provided with promised supply of natural gas.

The Karachi-based power utility said that it received less than 50 percent of its promised gas resource in March. “We demanded a supply of 190mmcfd while Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) only provided 86mmcfd,” the K-Electric said adding, in order to compensate the shortage of natural gas they were provided with LNG which is expensive.

National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) however after initial assessment of the data agreed to an increase in tariff for K-Electric by Rs4.83 after the sole power supplier in Karachi sought an increase by Rs5.27 per unit.

The NEPRA chairman further said that the increase, if approved after other data provided by the power utility, will only be for the month of March.

On April 15, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) increased electricity price by Rs4.85 per unit under monthly fuel adjustment.

The hike in the power tariff has been notified on account of the monthly Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for the month of February, said NEPRA notification.

The power regulatory authority took the decision after conducting a hearing on the plea of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCPA).

The amount will be received in the bills of April, it said adding that the increase in power tariff will put an additional burden on consumers.

Life consumers and K-Electric are exempted from the tariff hike, the notification stated.