Power tariff increased for Peshawar, Islamabad consumers
25 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Tuesday announced an increase of Rs 1 to Rs 6.5 in power tariff of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). Sources in the NEPRA said electricity prices had to be raised due to the rising power generation cost in the wake of mounting circular debts of up to Rs 370 billion. The power tariff for domestic consumers has been increased by Rs 1 to Rs 6.5 per unit, Rs 5 per unit for commercial consumers and Rs 3.30 per unit for agriculture sector. The power tariff for domestic consumers of IESCO has been increased by Rs 1 to Rs 4.35 per unit, Rs 3.50 per unit for commercial consumers, Rs 2.80 per unit for industrial sector and Rs 2.73 per unit for agriculture sector. A NEPRA official said the hike in prices would help PESCO generate a revenue of Rs 114 billion, while IESCO would generate Rs 85 billion. "The power tariff has been raised to generate more revenue and meet expenditures of these two power distribution companies," the sources said. A senior official at the Ministry of Water and Power said on condition of anonymity that it was unlikely that the ministry would get rid of circular debt in another "three to four years". According to a Pakistan Electric Power Company estimate, power debt of more than Rs 39 billion are due on Sindh, Rs 18 billion on Balochistan, Rs 5 billion on Punjab, Rs 10 billion on Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Rs 16 billion on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. End.
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