ISLAMABAD - AHMAD AHMADANI : Though KESC had submitted wrong rates of gas and furnace oil to the regulatory authority yet the Nepra in a bid to reduce 19paisa per unit in the tariff of the company has given its approval in this regard.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) decision of dwindle in the tariff of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has been given for the month of August 2011 under the head monthly fuel adjustment. However, this decision of decline will not be applicable to the power consumers of lifeline and agri consumer’s categories.
Ironically, KESC ostensibly in its figure-fudging move regarding submission of the rates of gas and furnace oil for the electricity generation for the month of August 2011 to the authority had earlier declared the rate as Rs443.64/mmbtu of gas and Rs61, 310/M.Tons of furnace oil. However, findings of the verification process conducted by the Nepra against the invoices submitted by the KESC has now proved as exaggerated rates of gas and furnace oil that in fact were found as Rs437.13/mmbtu of gas and furnace oil as of Rs61,292/M.Tons. Therefore, owing to above said figure fudging move of the company, the Nepra has to take four long months to reach on a decision in this regard. Resultantly, the Nepra, in a bid to give relief on the said pretext to the pressed power consumers after conducting a verification process, has also played its due role by giving additional relief of Rs4 crore and 80 lakh to the over burdened consumers. Furthermore, Nepra has directed the KESC to give total Rs 26 crore and twenty-six lakh as a relief to the consumers in the electricity bills for the month of March.
It is to note here that KESC in August 2011 has sale out power electricity 1 billion 41 crore, 39 lakh and 79thousand units to the residents of the port city of Karachi. Additionally, the KESC in its plea to the Nepra sought a reduction of 15 paisa per unit for the month of August.