Nepra reserves decision on govt’s plea for Rs1.83 hike in power tariff

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has reserved the judgement on a petition of the government to increase power tariff by Rs1.83 per unit on account of monthly fuel cost adjustment for August, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

“Improvement in the transmission systems could have increased production from the wind power plants and the local coal-fired power plants,” the Central Power Purchasing Authority (CPPA) officials told Nepra during the hearing of the petition.

“The power transmission system has been facing problems for one and a half years,” the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) officials told Nepra.

“3,000 MW of electricity cannot be transmitted from south to north due to transmission problems,” they added.

“Why are furnace oil-based power plants needed?” Member Nepra Rafiq Shaikh questioned.

“I have been hearing for two and a half years that there are problems in the power transmission system,” Member Nepra Maqsood Khan.

“Why should you be allowed to charge money for electricity transmission when you cannot provide electricity?” he questioned.

“Why should the power consumers pay for your incompetence?” he questioned further.

“The power consumers will have to bear an additional burden of Rs590 million,” the Nepra authorities said.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani