K-P govt opposes power tariff revision

K-P govt strongly opposes two simultaneous moves by Pesco and NTDC to increase electricity tariffs.

Qaiser Butt October 22, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has strongly opposed two simultaneous moves by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) to increase electricity tariffs, reliable sources told The Express Tribune.

The NTDC has proposed an increase of 7.31 per cent in its national tariff, while Pesco plans to enhance its electricity rates between Rs4 and Rs4.7 per unit per month for its residential, commercial and industrial consumers.

Also, an increase of Rs3 and Rs4 per unit per month is proposed for agricultural tube wells consuming less than and more than 5 KW of electricity, respectively.

The consumers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will also have to pay a similar increase in their electricity bills for all purposes, as per the Pesco proposal.

The provincial government has however challenged both proposals at appropriate forums, including the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

“The provincial government will go to the courts to obtain a stay order against the Pesco proposal,” the source said.

Shumail Butt, the constitutional consultant for the K-P government, remarked that NTDC’s proposal was in violation of the Nepra act.

“The general public is already suffering from the heavy burden of the electricity tariff. They cannot afford another increase the tariff,” Butt said while explaining the rules and regulations prescribed in the Nepra act.

He said that any possible increase in the electricity tariff by Pesco would be illegal and unconstitutional, as constitutional clause 157 (2) D made increments in electricity tariff the prerogative of the K-P government.

Last month, Pesco increased its tariff by 27 per cent following the withdrawal of a constitutional petition, filed by the K-P government against the increase in the Peshawar High Court.

A stay order was earlier granted to the K-P government however the petition was withdrawn by the provincial government on the persuasion of the federal government, which promised that Pesco will not further increase its tariff.

The K-P constitutional adviser said that it would again obtain a stay order from the PHC against Pesco proposals to boost its tariff.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2010.