KESC allowed Rs2.13 per unit increase in tariff

Official of power ministry says govt will not pass on this increase to the consumers of Karachi by giving subsidy.

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has raised the power tariff by Rs2.13 per unit for consumers of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). The raise is on a quarterly basis from January to March 2012 on account of the increase in fuel prices and operation costs.

A senior government official said that KESC had requested an increase of Rs2.17 per unit in power tariff but the authority only allowed for an increase of Rs2.13 per unit.

An official of the power ministry said that the government will not pass on this increase to the consumers of Karachi by giving subsidy. Nepra has sent its decision to the power ministry, who will consult with the finance ministry on whether to provide subsidy so that consumers wouldn’t be faced with the burden of a tariff increase.

Nepra officials said that KESC would not directly charge consumers, but will send the summary to the ministry of water and power and that ministry will make the decision to either provide subsidy over it or directly pass it on to consumers.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2012.