In April, K-Electric will charge Re0.58 more per unit.

ISLAMABAD: As part of the fuel charge adjustment (FCA), the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has given K-Electric (KE) permission to charge customers Re0.58 more per unit in April.

Nepra was asked by K-Electric to raise the price of each unit by Rs1.66. On March 30, the applicant’s case was heard in front of the public.

According to a notice the regulator sent out on Friday, the rate increase that was approved by the FCA for February will be added to customers’ bills in April.

The FCA will apply to everyone, except those who use lifeline services and charging points for electric cars.

With this ruling, KE will be able to get more than Rs750 million.

In January, people who used KE paid Rs1.71 per unit as FCA. The latest hike in tariffs will make things worse for people who are already struggling with record inflation and a cost of living problem that is getting worse quickly.

Last month, NEPRA gave power distribution companies (Discos) and K-Electric permission to collect up to Rs14.24 per unit in delayed fuel adjustment surcharges from customers over the next eight months.

According to the Nepra decision, discos will get Rs10.34 per unit from domestic protected consumers who use 0-200 units per month, Rs14.24 per unit from non-protected consumers who use 0-200 units, Rs14.24 per unit from those who use 201-300 units per month, and Rs9.90 per unit from private agricultural consumers.

The electricity users would pay back the whole amount in monthly payments from March to October 2023.

In its ruling, the authority also said that K-Electric could charge customers up to Rs 13.87 per unit to pay for the deferred fuel adjustment surcharge.

K-Electric will get Rs9.97 per unit from household protected consumers who use 0–200 units per month, Rs13.87 per unit from non-protected consumers who use 0–200 units, Rs13.87 per unit from those who use 201–300 units per month, and Rs9.90 per unit from private agricultural consumers. The amount will also be paid back by the private lender from March to October 2023.