PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Tuesday approved an increase of 55 paisa per unit in electricity tariff on account of fuel cost adjustment for April 2019.
The decision was taken at a public hearing of a petition filed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) on behalf of power distribution companies.
The decision would have an impact of around Rs5.2 billion on electricity consumers. The tariff adjustment will, however, not be applicable to lifeline consumers who consume up to 50 units a month and K-Electric consumers.
In its petition, the CPPA had sought an increase of Rs0.5696 per unit in the electricity tariff due to a hike in fuel prices.
It pointed out that it had charged consumers a reference tariff of Rs5.2359 per unit in April while the actual tariff turned out to be much higher at Rs5.8055 per unit and hence it should be allowed a tariff increase of Rs0.5696 per unit.
According to the petition, the total energy generated in April stood at 9,717.38 gigawatt-hours (GWh) at a cost of Rs53.63 billion, which translated into Rs5.5190 per unit. Of the total, the net electricity delivered to the distribution companies was 9,511.79GWh at a price of Rs55.22 billion with transmission losses of Rs0.1080 per unit.
According to data provided to Nepra, the share of hydroelectric power generation was 22.94% at 2,229.41GWh in April.
During the month, around 481.05GWh or 4.95% of electricity was generated from furnace oil. The cost of electricity generated from furnace oil came in at Rs12.34 per unit. No electricity was generated from high-speed diesel during the month. The energy generated from re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) stood at 2,995.81GWh or 30.83% of the total generation. The cost of RLNG-based electricity was calculated at Rs9.4 per unit.
Power generation from local gas-based plants was 1,789.50GWh or 18.42% and the cost was Rs6.06 per unit.
Coal-based energy production stood at 1,005.04GWh or 10.34% in April. The cost of coal-based electricity came in at Rs6.78 per unit. The share of nuclear energy in the national energy mix was 745.20GWh or 7.67% in April. The cost of nuclear energy was recorded at Rs1.013 per unit.
NEPRA approves Rs0.81 per unit increase in power tariff
Bagasse-based electricity contributed 66.43GWh or 0.68% at a price of Rs6.11 per unit. The share of electricity imported from Iran in April was 42.43GWh or 0.44% and its cost was Rs11.5709 per unit. Wind energy production contributed 267.44GWh and its share in the generation mix was 2.75% whereas the share of solar energy stood at 66.50GWh or 0.68% at no cost.
Nepra authorities raised questions over running RLNG-based plants at lower capacity. National Power Control Centre (NPCC) officials said Balloki power plant had been facing tripping due to technical problems. They said the power plant was generating 1,160 megawatts but it had been shut down for 327 hours in April. Nepra sought details in that regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2019.
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