Electricity tariff increased by Rs4.45 per unit for Karachi residents

KARACHI: In a recent development, the Power Division announced a surge in the electricity tariff of Rs4.45 per unit for consumers in Karachi, following the decision by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

This increase is part of the first quarterly adjustment of the previous fiscal year, and the additional charges will be applicable to K-Electric consumers during the months of October and November.

Under this revision, the electricity tariff for K-Electric consumers has risen from Rs1.49 per unit to Rs4.45 per unit, marking a substantial increase.

This decision comes in the wake of NEPRA’s approval of another tariff hike of Rs1.71 per unit, further intensifying the financial burden on power consumers.

The NEPRA, in its official notification, stated that this increase in power tariff falls under fuel adjustment charges (FAC) for the month of August.

Consequently, consumers can expect to see the impact of this surge reflected in their bills from October onwards. It’s important to note, however, that these changes will not affect Lifeline and K Electric customers, offering them some relief amidst these tariff adjustments.

Moreover, in a separate decision on October 3, NEPRA also gave the green light to an additional increase in the electricity price, amounting to Rs3.28 per unit, as part of the quarterly adjustment.

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According to NEPRA’s notification, this rate of Rs3.28 per kilowatt hour (kWh) will be applicable to various consumer categories of power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric over a six-month period, spanning from October 2023 to March 2024.

These successive tariff hikes raise concerns among consumers about the affordability of electricity, particularly given the already-existing economic challenges.

The impact of these changes on the general public and businesses remains a topic of significant discussion and debate.