Energy relief

Letter August 29, 2022
Energy relief

KARACHI:

With consistent energy price hikes amid surging inflation, it is becoming impossible for the common man to pay electricity bills. Instead of only offering relief to households consuming up to 200 units of electricity, the Ministry of Energy should have extended the relief to households consuming up to 500 units of electricity.

NEPRA has always backed K-Electric’s (KE) decision to raise unit rates and allowed KE to charge for fuel adjustment. However, it has failed to regulate KE’s practices as prolonged and frequent power outages continue apace. Resultantly, residents are faced with a double whammy.

Besides, discontinuing fuel charge adjustments, the Ministry of Energy should reduce the electricity slab charges for all consumers who consume up to 500 units and set a uniform rate of below Rs.12 per unit. Without any relief, the people will either be compelled to undertake extreme measures to meet their needs, or they will simply not survive. I request the government to draw a plan to provide maximum relief to the public during such difficult circumstances.

Ashfaq Sharif

Karachi

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2022.

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