During a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, it was disclosed on Wednesday that consumers have incurred a charge of Rs. 45.06 per unit for electricity, encompassing capacity charges, energy charges, and the margin for Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
The committee convened at Parliament House, presided over by Senator Saadia Abbasi as Chairperson, to deliberate on the surge in electricity rates and its implications for the general populace. The Chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) expounded that the authority is mandated with the responsibility of ensuring the provision of safe and reasonably priced electricity to consumers.
He elucidated that the nation’s total electricity generation capacity stands at approximately 44,000 MW. At present, an average of 25,000 to 26,000 MW of electricity is being generated within the country, with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) contributing to 70 percent of this production.
In response to Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan’s query regarding the issuance of power generation licenses to IPPs, the NEPRA Chairman clarified that these licenses are granted by the government.
Senator Khan contended that addressing the country’s energy crisis necessitates a thorough review of the unreliable agreements with IPPs. He asserted that recent developments have underscored NEPRA’s failure to provide affordable energy to local consumers, raising concerns about the regulator’s alignment with the interests of IPPs.
Also, see:
Nepal’s Historic Feat in Asian Games 2023: Breaking Multiple T20I Records
Topics #featured #trending pakistan
