KARACHI: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has announced an 18-paisa per unit reduction in electricity prices for Karachi consumers. This reduction falls under the September 2024 monthly adjustment and will reflect in December bills.
Reduction Not Applicable to Small-Scale Consumers
The relief, however, excludes consumers who use up to 300 units per month. NEPRA clarified this condition in its official notification.
K-Electric’s Request for Adjustment
K-Electric had initially requested a 16-paisa per unit reduction for September’s adjustment. The utility also proposed returning Rs. 247 million to its consumers as part of the adjustment. NEPRA approved a slightly higher reduction of 18 paisas per unit.
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Tariff Hikes from Previous Months
In contrast to the reduction, NEPRA approved several tariff hikes earlier. For the August 2024 monthly adjustment, NEPRA allowed a 40-paisa per unit increase. Consumers will see this reflected in their January 2025 bills.
Additionally, K-Electric consumers faced an extra charge of Rs. 3.17 per unit in their November bills as part of the June adjustment. In December, another Rs. 3.03 per unit will be added to bills due to the July 2024 adjustment.
K-Electric announced a quarterly adjustment of Rs. 1.74 per unit. This charge is separate from the monthly adjustments. The quarterly mechanism transfers the impact of fluctuating fuel prices to consumers.
Ongoing Burden of Rising Tariffs
October also brought significant challenges for K-Electric customers. The utility raised tariffs by Rs. 2.59 per unit for that month, increasing financial pressure on residents.
For November, KE announced a cumulative adjustment of Rs. 4.91 per unit. This includes Rs. 3.17 per unit from the June adjustment and Rs. 1.74 per unit from the quarterly mechanism.
The announcement of a reduction for September brought slight relief to consumers already grappling with rising costs. However, the overall trend of consistent increases in power tariffs continues to strain household budgets in Karachi.
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