Adding to the challenges faced by the poverty-stricken population grappling with power outages, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), seeking a substantial increase in the fuel cost adjustment for December.
If approved, this proposal would result in a significant Rs5.62 per unit surge in electricity tariffs, imposing a hefty burden exceeding Rs49 billion on consumers.
The CPPA’s request is rooted in the generation of 7.418 billion units of electricity in December, leading to additional expenses for fuel procurement.
This development comes as unwelcome news for the millions already contending with the persistent challenges of electricity load shedding in the country.
NEPRA has slated a public hearing on the CPPA’s application for January 31, and consumers eagerly await the authority’s decision, hoping for relief from the proposed tariff hike.
Nevertheless, considering the escalating fuel costs and the strain on the power sector, the approval of the adjustment by NEPRA remains a possibility.
The potential increase in electricity prices is poised to intensify public discontent and exacerbate the financial difficulties faced by households and businesses already grappling with inflation and economic hardship.
Faced with mounting pressure to address the energy crisis, the government must explore solutions to stabilize the power sector, ease the burden on consumers, and ensure the provision of affordable and reliable electricity.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
