NEPRA okays massive tariff hike for home users
The business leaders condemned NEPRA’s recent decision to increase electricity tariffs from July 1. photo: file
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Thursday approved the government’s request to increase the tariff for domestic electricity consumers in the country by up to Rs7.12 per unit — meeting yet another condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its bailout programme.
However, according to a notification issued by the power regulator, domestic consumers using up to 200 units will be exempt from this hike for three months — from July to September.
The base tariff for other domestic consumers has been inflated by up to Rs48.84 per unit.
The consumers using 201 to 300 units per month will be charged Rs34.26 per unit with an increase of Rs7.12.
Similarly, those consuming between 301 and 400 units will be charged Rs39.15 per unit after being jacked up by Rs7.02.
Likewise, the consumers using 401 to 500 units will face a hike of Rs6.12 per unit after reaching Rs41.36.
For those consuming from 501 to 600 units, they will be slapped with an increase of Rs42.78 per unit with a hike of Rs6.12.
Those falling in the category of those using from 601 to 700 units will face an increase of Rs6.12 -- paying Rs43.92 per unit.
The consumers whose usage exceeds 700 units will be charged at the rate of Rs48.84 per unit following a hike of Rs6.12.
The per unit cost of electricity will be jacked up in accordance with the tax slabs.
The tax slab will remain unchanged for lifeline consumers using up to 50 units per month at the price of Rs3.95.
Similarly, it will continue to stay at Rs7.74 for other lifeline consumers using 51 to 100 units per month.
Nepra has sent its decision to the federal government for notifying the hike after the latter requested uniform tariff for all power distributions companies (Discos) and K-Electric.
In the same decision, the power regulator also approved the tariff increase for commercial, agricultural, general services and bulk consumers.
The base tariff for commercial consumers was hiked by Rs8.04, after which they would be charged by up to Rs77.15 per unit from July.
For agricultural consumers, the base tariff has jacked up to Rs46.83 per unit with a hike of Rs6.62.
Likewise, the base tariff for general services has reached Rs61.03 per unit after an increase of Rs6.98.
Similarly, bulk consumers will pay Rs59.96 per unit after a hike of Rs5.51.
However, the base tariff of electricity for industrial consumers and exporters has remained unchanged at Rs34.99 per unit.