KARACHI, Sept 24: The federal water and power ministry has announced a relief package for KESC consumers, offering a reduction in tariff ranging from 10 paisa per kilowatt to 25 paisa per unit.

Speaking at a press conference at the KESC headquarters on Friday, Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi said domestic consumers using more than 100 kilowatts would be given a 10 paisa per unit reduction in tariff.

"Commercial consumers using more than 100 kilowatts of electricity could avail themselves of a 25 paisa per unit reduction offered by the federal government. Similarly, in the off-peak consumption, the per unit reduction in tariff for industrial consumers would be 10 paisa for B1 category, 25 paisa for B2 and B3 category, 25 paisa for B3 category, and 15 paisa for B4 category," he explained.

Mr Jatoi pointed out that the relief package would translate into a loss of nearly Rs1 billion to the KESC. The KESC managing director, Brig Tariq Saddozai, said that the relief package had not been approved by Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority).

"Instead, the package has been offered by the federal government, which will pick up its cost. If a reduction in tariff had been offered by Nepra, the KESC would have had to bear the loss," he said. He said the relief package would be effective from July 1, 2004.

The federal minister for power announced another relief package for defaulters whose connections have been snapped by the KESC. Those consumers who have not paid their electricity bills for more than five years, would get a 50 per cent waiver.

They can pay the remaining amount by December. Similarly, those consumers whose outstanding dues are from three to five years, would get a 25 per cent waiver; from one to three years, a 20 per cent waiver; and from six months to one year a 15 per cent waiver," he said.

He said: "Those consumers who have not paid their bills for the past one year but whose connections have not been cut off by the KESC can avail themselves of a 25 per waiver being offered by the KESC."

The minister said that another relief package had been offered to those who sought power connections for the first time. "They can now pay Rs500 initially and then pay the remaining amount in nine equal instalments.

Furthermore, if the KESC needs a 40-metre-long cable for the installation of a connection, it would be given within a week. If the KESC needs cable more than the size and a pole also, the connection would be given within 15 days. In case a high-tension line, along with a transformer, is required for a connection, it would be given within a month," he said.