Power crisis: Govt mulls monthly tariff adjustments
As public resentment over the chronic energy crisis mounts, the government has gone back to the drawing board, mulling over an ambitious agenda to deal with the issue, including monthly adjustments in power tariffs and curtailing subsidies and circular debt in the sector.
The need to present realistic circular debt and subsidies figures to policymakers and international lending agencies prompted a special cabinet panel to meet on Tuesday and carve out a six-point agenda to resolve the crisis that has persisted, if not worsened, despite pumping in Rs900 billion in the past three years.
In a maiden meeting of the cabinet committee on energy crisis, the stakeholders agreed to dig out the issues before taking any decision on further injection of liquidity into the sector. Last year, the government budgeted power subsidy at Rs84 billion but ended up paying Rs295 billion.
The panel’s six-point agenda talks about bringing legislative changes to determine power tariffs, realistic budget estimate of subsidies, exact amount of money required to solve the crisis, introducing corporate governance and crafting clearly defined rules for load-shedding in the country against unannounced power outages.
(Read: Energy crisis needs to be tackled head-on)
The committee, headed by the finance minister, also resolved to bring honest officials in power distribution companies and urged the Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar to replace the corrupt officials.
Circular debt figures
“There should be first an agreement on the big picture i.e. what is the size of circular debt and how much more money is required to address the issue once and for all,” said a cabinet minister while talking to The Express Tribune.
Current estimates of circular debt range between Rs500 and Rs650 billion and the exact amount needs to be determined, said an official of the finance ministry.
The ministry of water and power, Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) have different estimates of circular debt, he added. The committee would subsequently decide on fresh injection into the system for smooth functioning.
Earlier on Monday, independent power producers warned that they would be forced to shut down if the government did not clear Rs210 billion in dues owed by Pepco.
Tariff determination
The current mechanism of determining tariff on the basis of minimum cost of generation is flawed, said the official, adding that the government may bring amendments in the Nepra act.
Separately on Tuesday, the government assured the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to get proposed amendments in the Nepra act approved in the upcoming session of parliament.
At present, Nepra determines the base electricity tariff on a quarterly basis for distribution companies (Discos) which the federal government notifies after taking into account the subsidy.
Under the Nepra amendment act, the tariff determined by the regulator will be immediately passed on to consumers and will be revised every month on the basis of fuel prices after accounting for inflation, operational and energy costs.
The proposed amendment in the Nepra act has also been backed by multilateral donors and would enable the government to end subsidy in the power sector, the major reason behind the mounting circular debt.
Naveed Qamar assured Rune Strom, Director Energy ADB, that the government would complete the process of dissolving Pepco by October this year, granting complete independence to the power distribution companies.
Other agenda items
The committee would look into the issue of IPPs’ outstanding dues and nonpayment of dues by electricity consumers, both public and private, said the finance ministry official.
The committee would also draft rules for load-shedding as currently there is no mechanism regarding the schedule and people have to face hours of power outages without announcement, he said. The committee may recommend an institutional framework to run the power sector, the official added.
“For a more focused approach, the committee discussed categorisation of the issues of the power sector in the most immediate and critical to long-term solutions,” said a brief finance ministry handout.
(Read: Dark days ahead, ‘Electricity woes to worsen in future’)
The issues are complex and require deliberation and it was decided to deal with all the issues in sequence on a daily basis. The next session of the meeting will be held today (Wednesday).
Published in The Express Tribune, August 10th, 2011.
COMMENTS (10)
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honestly dont you think these politicians have made Pakistan into a joke a joke? can any one on this planet take them seriously?
Everybody should pay for what he consumes. Only poor consumers using maximum of 100 units per month should get relief. Those using 100 to 299 units per month should pay actual cost. And those who use 300 to 499 units per month should pay a higher rate to cover loss incurred on account of giving relief to the poorest section of society mentioned above. As far as consumers using 500 units and more per month are concerned, they must be charged a much higher rate so that energy companies can make reasonable profit and the government gets required resources to start new projects.
In energy sector alone, nation has paid enough to provide electricity to affluent class using luxuries like air-conditioners. They must now start paying for their luxuries or else stop wasting electricity. For them, Rs.25/unit would not be a very high price. The upper class should now stop discussing national issues in elegant drawing rooms and better start paying taxes and whatever is due from them. They talk a lot about corruption but no state functionary, political or bureaucratic, can be corrupt without their criminal participation.
Till the time our destiny is being written by corrupt bureaucracy, Pakistan is not likely to progress in any field. The energy crises are the bureaucracy bonanza. They are making money in subsidies, in circular debt and every deal that the government makes. Very soon, the starved people will guillotine the official thieves along side their dim-witted political mentors. As a matter of fact that will be a turning point in the lives of Pakistanis. It will be a pleasure to witness that bureaucracy is being dragged on roads and their bellies slit opened for exchequer money
This corruption has now brought this country on the verge of collapse, now what else remain? They are still considering to remove the corrupted mafia. Shame on them. Do it now and save this country from these black spots who have eaten the country's resources. Allah Blesses Pakistan and take this country our of this crisis, Ameen.
By the way where is Mr. Raja Riaz???? underground?? PPP failed because of corrupt and incompetent regime.
There is only one way to clean up the mess. Burn the ipp stations and collect the insurance
"In a maiden meeting of the cabinet committee on energy crisis, the stakeholders agreed to dig out the issues before taking any decision on further injection of liquidity into the sector."
Wow the cabinet has discovered that there is an energy crisis in Pakistan!
This is completely unacceptable.
Pres Zardaei had recently ordered that there should be no energy shortage in Pakistan.
In defiance of his orders, from this article I find that reality is different !
Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Much the best solution because thus like the POL prices now the government shall increase power tariffs on monthly basis.Wow what the cruel and brutal thoughts of the corrupt,beggars and slaves leaders to rehabilitate the already economically and financially dead poor,common and middle class related man.
Good step indeed. This white elephant should be cleaned.