ISLAMABAD: After refusing to pass on to consumers a 62-paisa per unit reduction determined by the regulator in the base national tariff for the current fiscal year, the power companies on Friday sought a 48-paisa per unit increase in fuel cost charges to consumers across the country in February bills despite more than 72pc generation in December from cheaper domestic, predominantly zero-cost fuel sources.

Once approved, the power companies would charge an additional amount of about Rs4 billion to consumers of all the power companies, including ex-Wapda Distribution Companies (Discos) and K-Electric, in February bills. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has called a public hearing on Jan 29 to examine the request for fuel cost adjustment (FCA).

Earlier this week, the government had announced that a 62-paisa per unit saving in the national average tariff had been eaten up by the highly subsidised ‘protected’ consumers, who more than doubled to 22 million from around 9.5m three years ago, and their consumption also doubled.

The CPPA, which filed the petition for higher FCA for December consumption, said the power consumption was around 9pc higher than the same month of the previous year and about 15pc lower than November 2025.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2026