ISLAMABAD: Adding to the woes of already-strained power consumers, the power distribution companies (Discos), excluding K-Electric, have sought a massive increase in the January 2024 bills, The News reported Wednesday.
The Discos are seeking approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to levy an extra Rs4.6617 per unit on consumers for January 2024. This sought-after increase stems from the fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for November 2023.
The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), on behalf of Discos, has applied with Nepra to raise electricity prices under the November 2023 FCA.
The total amount of electricity produced in November was 7,547 gigawatt-hours (GWh), valued at Rs7.1704 per unit, according to the CPPA’s application. A total of Rs54.113 billion was spent on energy.
Hydel power contributed 2,755 GWh (36.50%), incurring zero power generation costs. Coal-fired power plants produced 1,473 GWh (13.08%), with a total cost of Rs15 billion (Rs15.27/unit), combining local and imported coal sources (987 + 486 GWh).
Re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) contributed 798 GWh (10.57%) at Rs23.7171 per unit, while gas-based power plants generated 695 GWh (9.21%) at Rs14.6197 per unit.
Furthermore, 27 GWh of power generated at a cost of Rs6 per unit came from bagasse. In November, solar power produced 50 GWh (0.66%) and wind power recorded 148 GWh (1.96%) of the total generation.
Nuclear power generated 1,572 GWh (20.83%) at a cost of Rs1.2071 per unit, while 30 GWh (0.39%) came from imported electricity from Iran at a cost of Rs27.7281 per unit. Nepra received data from CPPA-G indicating that 7,288 GWh (96.57%) of net electricity were delivered to Discos in November at a cost of Rs68.834 billion, or Rs9.444 per unit.