KESC power tariff hiked by Rs 2.77 per unit کے ای ایس سی نے فی یونٹ 2.77 روپے کا اضافہ کردیا

Pak Tribune - ISLAMABAD: After the government increased the power tariff by 7.6 percent from July 1, 2010 under an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has allowed the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to drop a bombshell on residents of Karachi by increasing the power tariff by Rs 2.77 per unit for all categories of power consumers except thelifeline consumers consuming up to 50 units per month.

The electric power regulator has increased the power tariff under quarterly adjustment in tariff on account of fuel price and power purchase variation for the period that ranges from July 2009 to March 2010.

In its determination, Nepra says KESC’s existing tariff is based on fuel prices of June 2009 and the KESC has not been allowed any adjustment in its tariff since June 2009. “Therefore, it is required that the KESC’s tariff be adjusted to the level of March 2010 as reference quarterly adjustment, while incorporating the variation in fuel and power purchase cost for the month of March 2010 over the reference month of June 2009.”

The determination of Nepra also says that the upward revised tariff schedule will be applicable from April 1, 2010 to June 30, 2010. Under the upward revised schedule, the lifeline consumers who consume electricity of just 50 units per month will continue to pay Rs 2 per unit, but with increase in power tariff of Rs 2.77, the residential consumers who use up to 100 units per month will now pay Rs 10.49 per unit; the electric power consumers who fall under the 101-300 units slab are to pay Rs 11.99 per unit; the 301-700 units slab consumers Rs 14.19 per unit and above 700 units slab consumers will now pay Rs 15.79 per unit.

For commercial consumers who have been sanctioned the load less than 5 KW will pay Rs 16.29 per unit and for those who have been sanctioned load of 5 KW and above will pay Rs 13.49 per unit apart from the fixed charges of Rs 400 per KW per month.

For agriculture tariff for all loads, Rs 9.17 per unit will be charged. The government, during the last two years, increased the power tariff close to 70 percent while a further increase in quarterly adjustment tariffs of distribution companies is also on the cards.

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