KARACHI (Kashmir English): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has issued a notification to increase electricity prices for consumers across the country, including Karachi.
According to the notification, the price of electricity has been raised by Rs 1.11 per unit; this one-month hike is based on the fuel price adjustment for August, and the additional cost will be collected from consumers nationwide—including those in Karachi through their October bills.
Sources indicate that the August fuel adjustment will place an additional financial burden of Rs 19 billion on consumers; however, this price hike will not apply to “lifeline” consumers.
Electricity Crisis and Increased Load-Shedding
The electricity crisis has intensified across the country, leading to longer periods of load-shedding in both urban and rural areas.
A few days ago, sources from the National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), Pakistan’s sole power market dispatcher, reported that the total supply shortfall had exceeded 4,000 megawatts.
Several power plants have gone offline, and hydel power generation has also declined. In the LESCO region, demand stands at 4,000 MW while supply has dropped to 3,000 MW; the widening shortfall has resulted in 3 to 4 hours of load-shedding in cities and villages.
