Pakistan’s Power Division has projected a Rs2.56 per unit increase in electricity bills for November due to September’s fuel price adjustment. The ministry expects the increase to add around Rs32.7 billion to consumers’ bills. It said the adjustment could have reached Rs5 to Rs6 per unit without targeted load management.
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According to the Power Division, authorities used load management for approximately two to two-and-a-half hours daily during September. This measure reduced reliance on expensive fuels, including furnace oil and high-speed diesel. The ministry said these efforts prevented an additional increase of up to Rs3.44 per unit.
The division also said supplying imported re-gasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) to power plants at domestic gas prices reduced costs by 83 paisa per unit. However, international fuel prices rose amid the Middle East conflict and disruptions to supply chains following the Strait of Hormuz closure. Pakistan continued efforts to secure contracted RLNG supplies and additional spot cargoes despite Qatar’s force majeure declaration.
The Power Division reported that fuel and quarterly tariff adjustments between January and August added 65 paisa per unit, or 1.9 per cent, to the base electricity tariff. It credited tariff rationalisation and an electricity consumption package for industrial and agricultural users. September’s expected adjustment of Rs1.45 per unit is higher than August’s Rs1.11 per unit.
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Meanwhile, industrial consumers have challenged the benefits of the incremental electricity consumption package. They argue that its Rs22.96 per unit rate benefits a limited group, while the actual marginal cost of Rs34 per unit adds around Rs11 to the average consumer tariff. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority recently held a public hearing on revising or suspending the package, but its decision remains pending.