The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a uniform tariff adjustment of Rs 1.96 per unit for the first quarter of the financial year 2024-25.
The amendment bill, which aims to recover Rs 1,187 billion, will be issued in December 2024.
This decision follows a public hearing held on November 20, 2024, attended by representatives from DOE, DOE, CPPA-G, K-Electric, Discos, and other stakeholders.
It was clarified during the hearing that the current fourth quarter adjustment of Rs 1.74 per unit for FY 2023-24 will expire in November 2024, resulting in a net impact of Rs 22 paise per unit for consumers.
Some commentators, including Amer Sheikh, suggested postponing the amendment to January 2025 to ease the burden on consumers, but no changes to the timeline have been announced.
Commentator Arif Bilwani raised concerns about falling demand across discotheques, urging NEPRA to investigate the reasons behind the drop in sales and address load shedding practices.
Meanwhile, the CPPA-G has sought approval of INR 1,007 billion for legal fees related to the Market Operator Fee (MOF) amendment for FY 2024-25.
NEPRA, consistent with past practice, excluded adjustments for legal fees while calculating the quarterly adjustment. The approved tariff adjustment will only apply for one month, affecting electricity bills issued in December 2024.
This amendment adds to the ongoing deliberations on energy sector reforms and the financial challenges faced by distribution companies and consumers alike.