At a National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) public hearing, officials from the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) disclosed that consumers are billed for a power capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) while only using 12,000-13,000 MW.
This discrepancy shows that, although electricity consumption is lower, consumers are being charged for a much larger capacity.
Consumers will see a modest decrease in electricity prices by up to 31 paisa per unit for July 2024, due to fuel adjustment. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) had requested this reduction, which will result in a relief of Rs4.5 billion for the month, according to CPPA officials.
They added that as global fuel prices continue to fall, electricity prices are likely to experience only minor changes if economic conditions remain stable.
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NEPRA member Rafiq Shaikh questioned the NTDC officials about the potential consumer relief if system losses were eliminated. The NTDC officials could not provide an answer, causing frustration among NEPRA members.
The NEPRA officials stated that energy growth has remained stagnant over the past six years and questioned the costs associated with reducing system losses and the impact on consumers.
Shaikh urged for a thorough analysis to assign responsibility, expressing concern that electricity bills have now exceeded house rent costs, which he claimed are rising due to increased energy expenses.
