ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has indicated to restrict the regular public hearings for determination of electricity price after the allegation leveled by the civil society of Karachi collusion of Power Regulator and K Electric in the fixing of electricity prices.
The NEPRA conducted public hearing a public hearing on October 31, 2024, on the petition of the K Electric for provisional monthly fuel charge adjustments (FCA) for the month of September 2024. The KE has proposed negative Rs0.17/unit for the month of Sept. The Electricity consumers will get relief of Rs 247 million, if the authority accepts the application. After concluding the hear, the authority has reserved its decision which will be issued after few days.
During the public hearing, the civil society raised serious questions on the application of KE for determination of the electricity price. They said that that the regulator has conducted public hearing for rest of the country yesterday for reducing Rs0.70/unit for Sept and it is reducing Rs0.17/unit for Karachi.
A commentator from Jamat-e-Islami Karachi alleged that there is cartelization between the regulator and KE for price fixing of electricity. He demanded to withdraw the license of power generation of KE as they are generating costly electricity.
While pointing out the inefficiency of power plants of KE, another commentator said that the KE has been producing very costly electricity. The cost of electricity of a plant of KE has been reached at Rs58. There is no need to operate such a inefficient plants which are increasing burden on consumers.
While, reacting on the criticism on the authority by public, the authority has expressed displeasure on the situation. The Member Sindh said, personnaly, I feel that the public hearing should be restricted.
The people who don’t know about the basics of power sector, they are criticism and abusing on the authority. He said that public hearing is not mandatory in rules of the NEPRA. Some peoples abusing us without having knowledge about the issue. He said that those peoples should be allowed to ask questions during public hearing who submitted written questions.
If anybody thinks that NEPRA authority is not working fairly that he should come up will review petition, he further stated.
The Member Punjab has also raised concerns on the public comments and said that the commentators should not attacking on any individuals and criticize with respectful manor.