Ukraine war blamed for ‘fuel, power hike’

Senate panel raises issue of a man who died after shocking electricity bill

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Power on Monday apprised that fuel cost has been increased due to the recent Russia-Ukraine war as inventories such as furnace oil were imported from other countries.

The panel that met with Saifullah Abro in the chair was told that the power tariff was linked with the hike in fuel prices was linked to global prices as electricity was being generated through imported furnace oil, coal and Regasified-Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG).

Nepra member Maqsood Anwar briefed the committee about the month-wise decrease and increase in electricity bills made by the authority in the name of fuel adjustment.

However, the chairman of the panel said that despite payments to independent power producers (IPPs), electricity was not available to consumers. He demanded a complete report of the factors involved in the unexpected increase in tariff.

Meanwhile, Senator Walid Iqbal raised the issue of a man named Maqsood Ahmed who died of a heart attack after receiving a shocking electricity bill of Rs41000 for consumption of 82 units.

However, officials of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) said the complainant's name was mentioned as Bashir Ahmed, he added.

The CEO of Lesco informed the committee that Bashir Ahmed was the father of the complainant and the latter was involved in electricity theft and was fined according to NEPRA rules.

Senator Walid Iqbal also inquired about the inflated rise in May bills which were due in June.

The CEO said that the increase in bills was related to consumption and in May electricity consumption increased owing to hot weather.

Senator Saifullah Abro suggested that a fine should be imposed on everyone involved in theft regardless of their social status.

He directed the CEO of LESCO to conduct an inquiry into the matter and present its report at the next committee meeting.

The chairman also took up the matter of the blast at Guddu thermal plant and inquired about the reasons for the incident and the time needed to make the power plant efficient again.

Officials of Central Power Generation Company Ltd (GENCO ) said that the inquiry committee comprising four members had been formed, which would conclude its report in the next few days.

The maintenance was underway which has to be completed in 90 days and the incident would further cause a 20 or 30 days delay.

The committee also discussed the matter of fuel price adjustment charges in electricity bills raised by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed in the House.

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed told the committee that the matter was filed in Peshawar High Court in October 2021 and NEPRA was directed to solve the matter in 30 days. But despite the lapse of one and half years, the matter was still pending.

Mushtaq Ahmed also raised the matter of the unavailability of electricity in KPK. He said that KPK produced 7000 MW of electricity and its demand was around 2800 to 3000 MW but despite producing huge electricity, the people of KPK were deprived of electricity.

The chairman directed Nepra’s chairman to provide the due share of electricity to the province.

Saifullah Abro also heard the grievances of Quetta Electric Supply Company and Peshawar Electric Supply Company regarding the shortage of manpower.

Furthermore, the committee discussed the issue of pending recommendations made by the committee in its meetings held from February 23 onwards.

While discussing the Jamshoro Coal Power Project (Lot-I & Lot-II), Syed Jafri CEO of Jamshoro Power Company Limited told the committee that the plant would produce1320 MW of electricity and the total cost on both Lot-I & II would be $ 1270 Million which was less than Sahiwal and Port Qasim power plants.