Particle.news

NEPRA Hears Rs1.20/kWh Fuel Charge Request

Approval would add a net Rs0.86 per unit to consumer bills pending NEPRA's review of Disco losses and transmission limits.

Overview

  • The Central Power Purchasing Agency asked NEPRA for a Rs1.20 per kWh fuel cost adjustment for June generation costs, which would be charged in August after accounting for a Rs0.34 per unit levy already billed in July.
  • NEPRA completed public hearings and will rule after reviewing CPPA and PPMC evidence, with members flagging weak distribution company performance and alleged shifting of losses to high‑theft areas.
  • CPPA told the regulator that actual fuel cost in June was Rs8.91 per kWh versus a reference Rs7.71 due mainly to sharp rises in imported RLNG prices during April–June 2026.
  • Officials warned that transmission bottlenecks and two major plants — Neelum‑Jhelum (969 MW) and Guddu CCPP (747 MW) — remaining offline limit access to cheaper supply and push reliance on expensive fuels.
  • Total system demand contracted 3.3 percent year‑on‑year in June, which regulators said complicates cost recovery and could raise industrial tariffs further if quarterly adjustments are also approved.