Islamabad:
The electrocution of eleven people in July during the monsoon rains prompted the energy regulator of Pakistan to censorship distribution companies (disco) during a hearing Thursday while hearing a petition to reduce electricity prices at the national scale of RS1,69 per unit.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has concluded a public audience on the adjustment of July fuel loads (FCA) for nightclubs, where the Central Power purchase Agency-Guaranéed (CPPA-G) asked for the drop per unit for a month.
The regulator expressed a “severe indignation” on the tip of fatal accidents, the Rafiq Ahmad Sheikh member demanding responses from Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), where six deaths were reported in just one month.
“Where is the CEO of Iesco? Where were the security measures?” Asked Sheikh, warning that the authority could impose maximum sanctions on negligent companies. “But these companies present themselves in the courts and obtain orders for a residence permit,” he added.
The NEPRA said that the electricity division, through a letter, had sent the Directive of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) that electric consumers K were also invoiced by the FCA determined for discos, in accordance with the uniform government pricing policy.
If the proposed adjustment is approved, it will apply to all categories of consumers, with the exception of Lifeline users, protected consumers, prepaid customers and electric vehicle charging stations.
The Central Energy Purchase Agency (CPPA) informed the regulator that the higher hydroelectric generation in July reduced dependence on expensive IML. On an annual basis, the overall generation fell 5%, although the monthly production increased by 3%, according to the technical member of NEPRA.
Several large power plants, including Neelum-Jhelum, Punjab Thermal and Guddu, remain closed, composing reliability problems in the grid, noted the members.
The industrial consumers of the audience praised the NEPRA for at least attempting to tackle the public complaints, while accusing the Oil and Gas Gazon Regulatory (OGRA) of becoming “no more than a post office” and to open the rules openly.
