Discos petition to refund Rs7.8bn

With a 1.6 per cent growth in electricity demand over last year, the public sector power distribution companies (Discos) have sought about Rs2 per unit negative fuel price adjustment (FCA) for electricity consumed in January as nuclear power emerged as the single largest source with 27pc contribution to the national grid. If approved, the ex-Wapda Distribution Companies (Disco) would have to refund about Rs7.8 billion to consumers in March — almost half of the total savings in fuel costs in January. The fuel cost for power generation in January 2025 is about Rs3.62 per unit, lower than January 2024. This will be 7th consecutive monthly decline in fuel mainly because of substantially higher costs allowed by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) through a 20pc increase in base tariff effective July 1, 2024. About 71pc of the total power supply during January flowed from domestic fuel sources, almost 15pc of that at zero fuel cost.