Power consumers to get minor relief in April bills

ISLAMABAD: Power consumers are set to get a minor relief of Rs0.298 per unit in April bills, as ex-Wapda distribution companies (XWDiscos) seek regulatory approval to refund overcharged amounts from the previous month.

The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), representing these utilities, has petitioned the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) to finalise the fuel price adjustment (FCA) for February 2025.

Nepra will hold a public hearing on March 26 to assess the justification for the proposed refund and review adherence to the economic merit order in power dispatch.

The relief, if approved, will apply to most consumers except lifeline users, EV charging stations, and prepaid electricity users.

In February, 6,945 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity was generated at Rs7.571 per unit, totalling Rs52.58 billion. Transmission losses stood at 3.56 per cent, and 6,666 GWh were delivered to distribution companies at Rs8.229 per unit.

Hydropower-based electricity generation stood at 27.12pc (1,883 GWh), followed by nuclear energy 26.59pc (1,847 GWh) at Rs1.829 per unit. Power generation from local coal contributed 15.02pc (1,043 GWh), while RLNG-based generation accounted for 14.11pc (980 GWh).

Natural gas-powered plants produced 10.32pc (716 GWh) at Rs13.357 per unit, and imported coal contributed a mere 1.56pc (108 GWh). No electricity was generated from furnace diesel. Wind, solar, and bagasse-based sources added 2.5pc (174 GWh), 1.22pc (85 GWh), and 1.14pc (79 GWh), respectively.