The transfer of three quarterly tariff adjustments (QTAs) accrued in the previous fiscal year to K-Electric customers has been officially requested by the federal government, which would result in an increase in their electricity costs of more than Rs. 10 per unit.
NEPRA will hold a public hearing to discuss the increase in power rates for QTAs accumulated in 2022–2023. Charges of up to Rs. 4.45 per unit for the first quarter, Rs. 0.4689 per unit for the second quarter, and Rs. 5.41 per unit for the fourth quarter are included, the regulator was asked by the Ministry of Energy.
If approved, K-Electric customers will experience an overall increase in electricity prices of Rs. 10.32 per unit in the upcoming months.
The federal government has asked NEPRA for policy guidelines under Sections 7 and 31 of the NEPRA Act 1997 regarding the recovery of quarterly tariff adjustments, which is anticipated to take effect from September through December 2023.
In addition, the Energy Ministry has released policy guidelines that make it clear how quarterly adjustments should be applied consistently to K-Electric and state-run DISCO customers.
The first QTA was issued on May 22, 2023, and the Ministry has urged NEPRA to review its decision. The Energy Ministry requests a separate SoT for K-Electric, which includes the anticipated application of pertinent uniform rates, in response to the tariff rationalisation request made on March 17, 2023. With consumer recovery planned for September and October 2023, this is expected to cover electricity bills for the months of February and March.
