Power bills may rise by Rs0.19 per unit in October

ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers nationwide, including those of K-Electric, may see their October bills rise by Rs0.19 per unit after the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on Monday heard a petition seeking an additional Rs2.62 billion under monthly fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for August 2025.

Officials from the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA-G) told the regulator that distribution companies were supplied 13.71 billion units in August at Rs7.50 per unit against a reference cost of Rs7.31, prompting the adjustment request. Federal policy guidelines stipulate that any FCA approved for ex-Wapda distribution companies also applies to K-Electric, ensuring uniform tariffs across the system.

Industrial representatives strongly opposed the increase, warning that the expiry of the prime minister’s relief package had already inflated their energy costs sizably. “Our tariff has jumped from Rs29 to Rs35 per unit despite assurances of supply at nine cents,” one industrial consumer told the hearing.

Nepra reserved its decision, saying it would scrutinize the data before issuing a notification. Approval would pass higher generation costs to households and businesses, as monthly FCAs are designed to reflect fuel price fluctuations in the global market.

According to CPPA-G data, total power generation in August reached 14,218 gigawatt hours (GWh) at Rs103.4 billion. Hydropower dominated with 5,517 GWh (39pc) at zero fuel cost, followed by nuclear plants at 2,145 GWh (15pc) at Rs2.19 per unit. RLNG-based plants generated 2,180 GWh (15.3pc) at Rs21.73, while coal accounted for 18pc — local at Rs12.01 and imported at Rs14.07. Gas-based generation contributed 7.3pc at Rs13.43, furnace oil less than 1pc at Rs33.01, and imports from Iran, though just 78 GWh, carried the steepest cost at Rs41.09 per unit.