Nepra officials warned Gepco about illegally installing Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) on small meters. They said the company was installing AMI without regulator approval and even without data backup. Photo: archive
ISLAMABAD:
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) approved concessional rates on additional energy consumption for the industrial and agricultural sectors.
A Power Division spokesperson said industrial and agricultural consumers would be charged Rs 22.98 per unit for excess electricity consumption.
“This is a revolutionary step by the government to promote the industrial and agricultural development of the country,” the spokesperson said.
The government has introduced significant reductions in electricity rates for the industrial and agricultural sectors (two pillars of the national economy) to alleviate the cost of doing business and support economic growth.
Under the new tariff structure, the price of additional electricity units for the agricultural sector has been reduced from Rs 38 to Rs 22.98 per unit, while the industrial sector tariff has been reduced from Rs 34 to Rs 22.98 per unit. “This important relief measure will reduce the average cost of purchased electricity for consumers in both sectors,” the spokesperson said.
With the revised tariffs, agricultural consumers using an additional 100 units will see a reduction of about Rs 7 per unit in their average electricity cost. Similarly, industrial consumers using additional 1,000 units will experience a decline of nearly Rs 5 per unit.
The Energy Division said the government has already implemented several tariff reductions for industries, and this new decrease is expected to encourage greater production and stimulate economic activity.
The government expresses confidence that the initiative will contribute to economic revitalization and provide relief to key productive sectors of the country.
“Nepra’s decision has been welcomed by the federal government,” the Energy Division said, adding that domestic and commercial consumers will not be affected by the industrial package.
The industrial package will promote industrial and agricultural activities in the country, Energy Minister Owais Leghari said, adding that the package will promote productive activities and provide additional employment opportunities.
The industrial sector will be able to better plan for the future with the three-year package, Leghari said, adding that new industries, including data centers and crypto mining operations, will also benefit.
“The package will be implemented after notification in this regard is issued,” the Power Division said.
