Bilal Ahmed 
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s power distribution companies (DISCOs) have demanded an additional increase of Rs 3.50 to Rs 6 per unit in consumer electricity bills.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), which is responsible for regulating the electricity supply in Pakistan, is set to conduct a hearing on August 23 of pleas filed by power distribution companies (DISCOs) to seek further hike in power tariff.
If Nepra approves this request, consumers will bear an additional burden of Rs 144.688 billion. DISCOs are demanding an increase in power tariff for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2022-2023—April to June 2023.
The official reportedly said, “If the required increase is recovered from consumers in the first three months of FY24, the tariff increase would be in the range of Rs 5-6 per unit. If the increase is spread over six months, the tariff increase would be in the range of Rs2.50-3 per unit.”
The average tariff of ToU consumers was Rs 49.57 per unit in the third quarter of FY23.
Under the head of the fourth quarter of FY23, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), a state-owned electric distribution company that supplies electricity to the districts of Faisalabad, Sargodha, Bhakkar, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Khushab, Jhang and Chiniot, in a plea asked for recovering of Rs 23.491 billion from consumers.
Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) asked for Rs16.139 billion, while Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) asked for Rs9.328 billion.
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Islamabad Electric Supply Company Limited ( IESCO), an electric utility company in Islamabad under the ownership of the Government of Pakistan, asked for recovery of Rs23.491 billion from consumers. Under the fourth quarter of FY23 plea, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), an electric distribution company that supplies electricity to Lahore, Nankana,Okara, Sheikhupura, and Kasur, demanded Rs 31.877 billion.
