NA panel apprised about rise in electricity tariff

NEPRA vice chairman says soaring dollar, capacity payments reason behind increase in rates

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy has questioned officials on rising electricity tariffs across the country and sought details regarding the appointment of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) CEO.

A meeting of the standing committee was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani. An amendment for representation in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) Appellate Tribunal was also brought under discussion.

The Power Division secretary informed the committee that the forum for appeal against Nepra decisions is a tribunal and its completion has been facing delays, adding that it has been two years since Balochistan could not provide its member for the tribunal. The secretary said that the Supreme Court has directed to complete the tribunal as soon as possible.

The Power Division secretary said that the issue of recruitment of locals in power distribution companies (Discos) is under consideration and work is under way on creating a new framework for such recruitment. “We are trying to recruit locals in Discos,” he told the committee, adding that the companies have been asked to review their situations and take decisions accordingly.

“K-Electric makes its own rules and regulations according to its needs,” he told the committee.

The Power Division secretary informed the committee that people must possess a local district domicile for recruitment in Grades I to V in various Discos while recruitment from Grade VI to XVI remains a top priority for local candidates.

The Nepra vice chairman informed the committee that the increase in capacity payments and the appreciation of the dollar against the rupee has led to an increase in the price of electricity while the financial burden of electricity theft is also being passed on to the consumers.

He added that the condition of Discos has not improved either even when we have allowed nine of them to invest Rs365 billion in five years.

Committee member Saifur Rehman asked how many people were recruited on ad hoc extension. He also questioned the recruitment of the IESCO chief Dr Muhammad Amjad. The secretary replied that the incumbent IESCO chief had retired from the Peshawar Electric Power Company and was hired through advertisement. Questioning the hiring, a committee member retorted that are there no more capable people in the country?

The committee postponed the discussion on Pakistan Penal Code Amendment Bill 2019 to which the secretary said that this bill has been submitted to the committee for more than a year now and it is requested to take it up for discussion. Committee member Ghulam Mustafa Shah said that quorum is not complete and thus discussion on the bill should be postponed.