Discos seek to refund Rs23bn for July

With a five per cent decrease in power consumption in July over last year, the public sector distribution companies (Discos) have sought a Rs1.69 per unit refund for consumers due to lower fuel costs, driven by better hydrological conditions. If approved, the refund could amount to approximately Rs23 billion, which would be reflected in August bills. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has scheduled a public hearing on Aug 28 to review the petition. The fuel cost adjustment (FCA) refund will also apply to K-Electric consumers, in line with a recent decision by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet. Nepra has also sought public feedback on whether the Power Division’s request to implement the ECC’s decision before formal cabinet ratification should be accepted. This will determine how the FCA is applied to K-Electric’s consumers and ensure uniformity across the country’s power tariffs.