ISLAMABAD (PEN) :The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has initiated an inquiry into the operations of Power Distribution Companies (Discos) following their request for a Rs7.13 per unit increase in electricity rates for the month of January 2024 under the fuel adjustment mechanism.
During a hearing on Friday, NEPRA Chairman Waseem Mukhtar expressed concerns over the demand, noting that there were no changes in fuel prices and exchange rates.
Mukhtar, alongside members Engineer Maqsood Anwar Khan and Rafique Ahmad Shaikh, delved into the details of the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA)’s petition.
The regulatory voiced serious concerns about the hefty proposed increase, attributing it to systemic deficiencies within distribution companies.
NEPRA’s scrutiny revealed irregularities in load-shedding patterns across regions, raising doubts about the authenticity of the proposed adjustments, despite claims of low power demand.
Furthermore, NEPRA drew attention to a backlog of pending power connections, amounting to 550 MW, criticising Discos for their inability to justify previous claims made during hearings.
With 160,000 pending connections in Discos, Chairman Mukhtar underscored NEPRA’s commitment to accountability, announcing plans for a comprehensive investigation into Discos’ operations under the 27A of the NEPRA Act.
In addition to seeking an increase in rates, distribution companies are also looking to impose a burden of Rs26.7 billion on consumers in a single month, citing transmission system stability issues.
