NEPRA approves tariff increase
The new electricity price hike by 0.58 per unit approved for the month of October.
KARACHI:
The National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved an increase in the power tariff of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) by Rs0.58 per unit.
The new hike has arrived in the shape of a fuel-adjustment cost and has been approved for the month of October. It will be applicable from three months — from October to December 2010 —subject to the issuance of an official notification.
Consumers are likely to be forced to pay more than just the approved hike in the tariff. While it is expected that the federal government will issue a notification confirming an increase of Rs0.58 per unit, the hike will actually amount to Rs0.90 per unit, KESC officials told The Express Tribune.
After the government recently announced a subsidy of Rs7.5 million per month to assist KESC in adjusting its fuel cost expenditures, an increase in the power tariff should have been avoided, they said.
Before approving hikes in tariffs, Nepra evaluates the reports of power distribution companies. Based on these reports, the federal government authorises a hike in the tariff and issues a notification after it receives support from Nepra — which also monitors the power distribution companies independently.
KESC communications and PR director Ayesha Eirabi told The Express Tribune that Nepra had made it mandatory for power distribution companies to submit details about their operational costs after every three months to facilitate Nepra in its decision-making.
Eirabi added, however, that the news regarding an increase in the power tariff by Rs0.58 per unit had yet to be verified. It can only be confirmed after KESC receives a copy of an official notification in this regard, she said.
with additional input from online
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2010.
The National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved an increase in the power tariff of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) by Rs0.58 per unit.
The new hike has arrived in the shape of a fuel-adjustment cost and has been approved for the month of October. It will be applicable from three months — from October to December 2010 —subject to the issuance of an official notification.
Consumers are likely to be forced to pay more than just the approved hike in the tariff. While it is expected that the federal government will issue a notification confirming an increase of Rs0.58 per unit, the hike will actually amount to Rs0.90 per unit, KESC officials told The Express Tribune.
After the government recently announced a subsidy of Rs7.5 million per month to assist KESC in adjusting its fuel cost expenditures, an increase in the power tariff should have been avoided, they said.
Before approving hikes in tariffs, Nepra evaluates the reports of power distribution companies. Based on these reports, the federal government authorises a hike in the tariff and issues a notification after it receives support from Nepra — which also monitors the power distribution companies independently.
KESC communications and PR director Ayesha Eirabi told The Express Tribune that Nepra had made it mandatory for power distribution companies to submit details about their operational costs after every three months to facilitate Nepra in its decision-making.
Eirabi added, however, that the news regarding an increase in the power tariff by Rs0.58 per unit had yet to be verified. It can only be confirmed after KESC receives a copy of an official notification in this regard, she said.
with additional input from online
Published in The Express Tribune, December 7th, 2010.