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ISLAMABAD: The government increased on Friday power tariff by up to 27 paisa per unit with immediate effect through a two per cent special surcharge to meet its commitment to International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to a power ministry notification, the increase will apply to consumers of all power companies, including the Karachi Electric Supply Company, except the lifeline consumers using less than 50 units per month.
The decision will generate about Rs1 billion a month and increases will follow in coming months.
A senior ministry official said the special surcharge had been imposed to cover a legal problem arising out of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Act. As a result, the tariff will go up by an average 17 paisa, ranging between nine and 27 paisa per unit.
The fixed monthly charge has also been increased by two per cent for all consumers.
Under the Nepra Act, the government cannot increase the rate beyond the benchmark tariff of Islamabad Electric Supply Company determined by Nepra and currently being charged at a uniform rate across the country.
Since the tariff of other power companies is higher and does not meet the average electricity cost, the government has used its powers under a previous finance bill to impose the special surcharge.
The rates for residential consumers using the first 300 units per month are lower than the existing tariff and these have been increased through a determination of Nepra.
The tariff for the first 100 units has been raised by nine paisa per unit to Rs4.54 and for units between 101 and 300 by 13 paisa to Rs6.87.
The third slab of domestic consumers using 301 to 700 units will pay 21 paisa per unit higher to Rs10.78 and those using more than 700 units will be charged at 13.56 per unit, an increase of 27 paisa.
The tariff for bulk domestic consumers in housing colonies has been increased by 17 to 23 paisa per unit depending on categories.
COMMERCIAL: Tariff for commercial consumers with a sanctioned load of less than five kilowatt capacity has been increased by 26 paisa per unit and for consumers with a sanctioned load of more than 5kW by 16 paisa. Peak tariff has been increased by 23 paisa per unit and off-peak rate by 13 paisa.
INDUSTRIAL: The tariff for B-1 industrial consumers has gone up by 18 paisa and for B-2 by 15 paisa. The peak rates for B-2, B-3 and B-4 consumers have been increased by 22 paisa per unit.
AGRICULTURAL: Tariff for SCARP consumers has been increased by 17 paisa per unit and that for agricultural tubewells by 11 paisa. The peak rates for SCARP and tubewells have been increased by 20 paisa per unit.
