Islamabad:
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) realized on Tuesday of the increase in the Slab of the electricity rate that penalizes consumers for exceeding 200 units, which ordered the energy division that proposes a solution for inflated invoices that persist for six months even after a single unit crosses the limit.
The committee meeting, chaired by MNA Junaid Akbar Khan, reviewed the audit paras related to the Ministry of Energy. Expressing concern, the president demanded an explanation of prolonged penalty to consumers who exceed the threshold of 200 units once.
The authorities informed the Committee on the State of Independent Energy Producers (IPP), revealing a strong increase in installed capacity over the years. The member of the Shazia Marri committee questioned why provinces as Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continue to support up to 16 hours of loading off despite a surplus in the generation of electricity.
The Secretary of Energy informed the committee that 58% of electricity users are under the slab of 200 units, and subsidized rates now benefit 18 million consumers, up to 11 million of 11 million previous people. He acknowledged the question of high durable bills for consumers who violate the limit once.
“To increase the slab limit, a higher subsidy will be needed,” he said, adding that the Government aims to reform the system by 2027, changing to direct subsidies using BISP data.
The Ministry of Energy also noted that the installed capacity of IPP increased from 9,765MW in 2015 to 25,642MW in 2024, with annual capacity payments that jumped from RS141 billion to RS1.4 billion.
The member of the Syed Naved Qamar committee played the statement of the energy division that coal was the main driver of high electricity costs. Meanwhile, Junaid Akbar raised doubts about Basse Electricity Generation reports, qualifying the unrealistic numbers.
