Electricity Price Hike Looms: Govt Seeks Additional Rs 46 Billion

Federal Minister of Energy Owais Laghari has unveiled plans to introduce prepaid electricity meters, akin to prepaid phone systems, in a bid to combat electricity theft and reduce losses. Addressing a press conference in Multan, Laghari assured that efforts are underway to provide relief to consumers, with a total of Rs 45 billion in savings to be passed on to them. However, in a contrasting move, the government is poised to impose an additional burden of Rs 46 billion on electricity consumers through quarterly adjustments. The proposed increase in electricity prices, spanning April to June, encompasses Rs 22 billion in capacity payments, Rs 10 billion in transmission and distribution charges, and Rs 14 billion in other charges. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is scheduled to deliberate on the distribution companies’ petition seeking a tariff hike for all consumers, including industrial and commercial entities, today.