ISLAMABAD:
Electricity consumers across the country, including those in Karachi, may face a fresh increase in power bills as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is set to consider a request seeking an increase of Rs 0.82 per unit under the monthly fuel cost adjustment mechanism.
The proposed increase has been requested by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), which has filed a petition with the regulator to adjust fuel charges for electricity generated during May. Nepra is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the matter on June 30.
According to the petition, approval of the application would impose an additional burden of around Rs 12 billion on electricity consumers across the country.
The CPPA informed the regulator that a total of 12,638 million units of electricity were generated during May. The average fuel cost for power generation remained at Rs 9.25 per unit, higher than the benchmark fuel cost of Rs 8.43 per unit, leading to the proposed adjustment.
Documents submitted to NEPRA show that hydropower remained the largest source of electricity generation during the month, accounting for 33.27% of the total energy mix.
Electricity generated from local coal contributed 11.66%, while imported coal accounted for 13.54% of the total production. Furnace oil, once a major source of thermal power generation, accounted for just 0.16% of the overall generation mix during the month.
Power generation data further revealed that 8.31% of electricity was produced using local natural gas, while imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) contributed 11.81%. Nuclear power also remained a major component of the national energy mix, accounting for 14.25% of total electricity generation in May, according to the petition.
NEPRA routinely determines monthly fuel cost adjustments to reflect fluctuations in fuel prices and changes in the electricity generation mix.
