NEPRA allows KESC tariff hike

In the second electricity tariff hike since January, KESC has increased rates by Rs0.96 per unit.

KARACHI: In the second electricity tariff hike since January, the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has increased rates by Rs0.96 per unit.

The increase comes as a result of an appeal filed by KESC with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for an upward revision in the electricity tariff for the month of December 2010, in respect of fuel adjustment charges, which was approved.

The hike in tariff would simply affect the consumers with an addition of Rs96 per 100 units consumed. The overall impact of the increases on consumer electricity bills would be Rs576 for an average consumer, who would consume 300 units – the average consumption of electricity in the city.

A resident of Liaquatabad said power outages and rampant tariff hikes had ruined his cottage industry. “Nepra should also take notice of outages being resorted to and average billing (with increased amounts in bills),” he said.

A resident of Orangi Town expressed concern over the constant increases in power tariff, saying, “35 per cent of the entire household income is spent on paying utility bills every month.”

KESC spokesman Amir Abbasi told The Express Tribune that the recent increase in electricity tariff was made to adjust furnace oil expenses, which were incurred in December 2010 when the utility used oil to generate power during an acute shortage of natural gas.

However, he stressed that there would be no hidden charges and consumers would only pay the increase of Rs0.96 per unit.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2011.