Industrial users criticise spike in power tariffs

Industrial power consumers on Thursday criticised the revival of rising fuel costs in an unpredictable manner, despite the government’s commitments to declining electricity rates as a result of much-touted reforms in the sector and tariff renegotiations with power producers. At a public hearing on Rs1.27 per unit additional fuel cost adjustments demanded by distribution companies (Discos), the majority of the interveners also criticised the power companies and the National Electricity Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for disclosing insufficient data and opposed a regulatory decision unless full disclosures were made to reach examine detailed datasets. The public hearing was presided over by Nepra Chairman Waseem Mukhtar, along with other members.