The federal cabinet has approved a significant increase in the base electricity tariff for bulk, commercial, and agricultural consumers, while keeping the base tariff for industrial consumers unchanged.
Details of the Tariff Hike
- Commercial Consumers: The base tariff will increase by Rs8.04 per unit, bringing it to Rs77.15 per unit effective from July 1.
- Agricultural Consumers: The base tariff will rise by Rs6.62 per unit, reaching Rs46.83 per unit.
- General Services: The base tariff will go up by Rs6.96 per unit, resulting in a new rate of Rs61.03 per unit.
- Bulk Consumers: The base tariff will increase by Rs5.96 per unit, making it Rs59.96 per unit.
Process and Approval
According to sources, the federal cabinet approved these hikes through a circulated summary. The decision has been communicated to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). Upon NEPRA’s approval, the federal government will issue a notification to formalize the increase.
Impact on Domestic Consumers
Earlier, the cabinet had already increased the base electricity tariff for domestic consumers by Rs7.12 per unit. However, consumers who use up to 200 units per month are exempt from this increase for three months, from July to September 2024.
Implementation Date
The proposed increase in the base electricity tariff for domestic, bulk, commercial, and agricultural consumers is set to be implemented from July 1.
Summary
The cabinet’s decision to hike the base electricity tariff for multiple consumer categories, except for industrial consumers, aims to address the financial burden on the power sector. This move, while impacting various consumer segments, provides temporary relief for low-usage domestic consumers.
