Electricity prices may go up by Rs1.78 per unit across Pakistan, including Karachi, after a hearing held by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on a proposed tariff adjustment.
The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) requested the increase under the monthly fuel cost adjustment for January. A final decision will be announced after the regulatory review is completed.
During the hearing, officials said around 8.76 billion units of electricity were sold in January. The reference fuel cost was Rs10.39 per unit, but the actual cost increased to Rs12.17 per unit. This difference led to the proposal for a Rs1.78 per unit increase.
Authorities explained that lower hydropower generation and higher electricity demand were the main reasons for the higher costs. To manage peak demand, power plants running on expensive furnace oil had to be used, which significantly increased overall generation expenses.
NEPRA members raised concerns over the continued reliance on costly furnace oil plants. Member Punjab Aamna Ahmed questioned why such expensive sources were being used, stating that electricity prices keep rising instead of improving. Another NEPRA member, Maqsood Anwar, also noted that the requested increase is largely linked to furnace oil-based generation.
Officials responded that these plants were necessary to meet higher electricity demand during peak hours.
According to the CPPA’s petition, the proposed increase will also apply to consumers of K-Electric under existing government policies.
If approved, the adjustment would further increase the financial burden on consumers already struggling with high electricity bills, highlighting ongoing structural issues in Pakistan’s power sector.
