The consumers of K-Electric will get a relief of Rs7.8 billion owing to the decrease in the tariff of power, WealthPK reports. However, the decision of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) regarding the relief will not be applicable to lifeline, agricultural and industrial consumers besides those, who utilise up to 300 units.

In this connection, NEPRA concluded a public hearing on fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for K-Electric for the month of September under the monthly fuel adjustment mechanism.The hearing was presided over by NEPRA Chairman Tauseef H Farooqi while member Sindh Rafique Ahmed Sheikh and member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Maqsood Anwar Khan were also present.

K-Electric in the petition sought a decrease of Rs4.62 per unit in tariff under FCA for September. However, as per NEPRA calculation, the decrease was Rs4.70 per unit for the said period.The consumers would get a relief of Rs7.8 billion owing to the decrease in the tariff. However, the decision would not be applicable to lifeline, agricultural and industrial consumers as well as those utilising up to 300 units.

Officials of K-Electric said that RLNG consumption decreased in September besides a 30 percent decrease in its price during the said period. However, the prices of furnace oil increased while its consumption witnessed a 4% decrease during the said period. They said that the supply of local gas to K-Electric in September had also a positive impact on electricity prices.

The NEPRA chairman said that K-Electric generated three times more costly electricity from its own resources which stood at Rs37.74 per unit while the cost of electricity purchased from other resources was mere Rs13.12 per unit. The officials said that cheaper electricity could be generated through the supply of local gas. They have taken up the issue of the provision of local gas to K-Electric on priority at both the legal forum and PM Task Force level. The authority would announce its decisions after reviewing the statistics.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk