Discos seek massive Rs4.66 per unit hike in Jan power bills

Increase stems from fuel charges adjustment for Nov.
CPPA applies with Nepra to raise electricity prices.
Nepra schedules public hearing on December 27.

ISLAMABAD: Adding to the woes of already-strained power consumers, the power distribution companies (Discos), excluding K-Electric, have sought a massive increase in the January 2024 bills, The News reported Wednesday.

The Discos are seeking approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to levy an extra Rs4.6617 per unit on consumers for January 2024. This sought-after increase stems from the fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for November 2023.

The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), on behalf of Discos, has applied with Nepra to raise electricity prices under the November 2023 FCA.

Nepra has scheduled a public hearing on December 27 to review the November FCA and has invited all interested or affected parties to present written or oral objections as permitted by law.

According to the CPPA’s application, the total electricity generated in November amounted to 7,547 gigawatt-hours (GWh), priced at Rs7.1704 per unit. The overall energy cost was Rs54.113 billion.

Hydel power contributed 2,755 GWh (36.50%), incurring zero power generation costs. Coal-fired power plants produced 1,473 GWh (13.08%), with a total cost of Rs15 billion (Rs15.27/unit), combining local and imported coal sources (987 + 486 GWh).

Gas-based power plants generated 695 GWh (9.21%) at Rs14.6197 per unit, while Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) contributed 798 GWh (10.57%) at Rs23.7171 per unit.

Additionally, power from bagasse amounted to 27 GWh at Rs6 per unit. Wind power recorded 148 GWh (1.96%), and solar power contributed 50 GWh (0.66%) of the total generation in November.

Nuclear power sources produced 1,572 GWh (20.83%) at Rs1.2071 per unit, while electricity imported from Iran accounted for 30 GWh (0.39%) at Rs27.7281 per unit. Data from CPPA-G submitted to Nepra indicates that the net electricity delivered to Discos in November was 7,288 GWh (96.57%) at a rate of Rs9.444 per unit, with a total cost of Rs68.834 billion.