ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has sought an end to a series of unnecessary burdens in the consumer tariff, including the costs of high technical losses, taxes and surcharges on industrial consumers, and the impact of partial plant operations, in order to stimulate industrial output and make Pakistani products competitive.

In a note to the government as part of tariff determinations, Nepra’s Member Technical Rafique A. Shaikh said the continued underutilisation of thermal power plants was contributing to an increase in the per unit capacity purchase price (CPP), which required careful examination, particularly to determine whether the underutilisation stemmed from a genuine lack of demand in the system.

He suspected it was not the case as evidence indicated otherwise. “Seven out of 12 distribution companies (Discos) are still enforcing loadshedding exceeding 12 hours per day in certain regions. Such extensive loadshedding also penalises law-abiding consumers, undermines confidence in the grid, and........

© Dawn Business