Government to charge additional Rs46 billion in power bills

Weeks after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif announced a reduction of Rs14 per unit in August and September electricity bills for Punjab and Islamabad consumers, the government began preparing to burden electricity consumers with an additional Rs46 billion as part of a quarterly adjustment on Monday.

The recent increase in power bills from April to June requests Rs22 billion in capacity payments to Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Also, an additional Rs. 10 billion will be taxed for the transmission and distribution of electricity, whereas Rs. 14 billion to be collected from users individually.

A hearing will be held on IPP’s application by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority today.