Govt mulls ending free electricity for public sector, officials

Plan proposes ending free electricity for government, semi-government institutions, including bureaucrats, judges

ISLAMABAD:

The government is considering ending the provision of free electricity to government officials and agencies, according to sources from the power division.

The federal government, under severe public and political pressure, has decided in principle to work on an emergency plan in the Ministry of Energy.

The plan proposes terminating the free electricity facility for all government and semi-government institutions. This includes bureaucrats, judges, and parliamentarians.

The emergency plan also includes a second phase, which considers ending the provision of free petrol.

Only industries and businesses will receive legitimate facilities. Sources indicate that there is also a proposal to reduce the Maximum Demand Indicator (MDI) charges in factories.

Furthermore, the performance of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will be scrutinised as part of this plan.

Earlier on July 19, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah announced plans to provide free electricity to users consuming up to 100 units and to provide solar power systems to off-grid households.

Speaking at a meeting at the Chief Minister's House in Karachi, Shah discussed various proposals with Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, Adviser Ahsan Mazari, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, and Energy Secretary Musaddiq Khan.

Energy Minister Nasir Shah briefed that approximately 80,000 households consuming 50 megawatts monthly include 441,483 under K-Electric, 229,338 in HESCO, and 125,500 in SEPCO’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, 1.9 million households consuming 100 megawatts monthly comprise 1,054,000 in Karachi (KE), 566,427 in Hyderabad region (HESCO), and 356,073 in Sukkur region (SEPCO).

It was highlighted that 2.6 million off-grid households could receive solar home systems (SHS), with an initial phase covering 500,000 households.