Govt notifies major power tariff hike

The PML-N led federal government has finally notified a phenomenal increase in power tariff for all consumers including those served by the K-Electric—a hike that is going to affect millions of power users across the country.

The Power Division on Sunday issued the notification for the increase in the basic electricity tariff, raising the basic tariff for domestic consumers by up to Rs7.12 per unit. However, domestic consumers using up to 200 units per month are exempt from this increase for three months.

For all other domestic consumers, the basic electricity tariff has been raised, resulting in the unit price reaching Rs48.84. The tariff for 201 to 300 units per month has increased by Rs7.12 to Rs.34.26 per unit. The tariff for 301 to 400 units has increased by Rs7.02 to Rs39.15 per unit.

The tariff for 401 to 500 units has increased by Rs6.12 to Rs41.36 per unit, the tariff for 501 to 600 units has increased by Rs6.12 to Rs42.78 per unit, and the tariff for 601 to 700 units has increased by Rs6.12 to Rs43.92 per unit.

When taxes are added to the electricity bills, the price per unit according to the slabs becomes significantly higher. The per unit price for lifeline consumers using up to 50 units per month will remain Rs3.95, and for those using 51 to 100 units, the price will remain Rs7.74 per unit.

Separately, another notification had been issued to impose fixed charges in the bills of electricity consumers. It said that the consumers would pay fixed charges, depending upon their consumption of monthly units.

According to the notification, domestic consumers would pay fixed charges of Rs200 from July 1 on the usage of 301 to 400 units; Rs400 for consumption of 401 to 500 units, Rs600 for using 501 to 600 units, Rs800 for using 601 to 700 units, Rs1,000 per month for using more than 700 units.

Domestic users, using time-of-use (TOU) meters, would also pay fixed charges of Rs1,000 per month. Similarly, commercial users with the load of less than 5 kW would have to pay Rs1000 per month and Rs2,000 for a load more than 5 kW.

Under TOU metering, industrial consumers, using up to 25kW, will pay Rs1,000 and those using the load of above that limit will pay Rs2,000 per month.

(WITH INPUT FROM NNI)