ISLAMABAD - AHMAD AHMADANI - The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has increased fee for fresh applications and modification in existing generation, transmission and distribution and tariff requests across the board by linking its fee structure to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
The CPI is an inflation indicator that measures the change in the cost of a fixed basket of products and services, including housing, electricity, food and transportation. The CPI is also called cost of living index.
Sources further told TheNation that revision of fee structure had been required by the increase in Consumer Price Index (CPI) base since September 2008 and would be valid up to 2nd January 2013.
To meet its expenses, the regulatory authority (Nepra) has to rely on various fees and penalties it charges from the companies engaged in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and tariff petition submitted by public and private companies from time to time. However, the regulator after meeting running expenses is supposed to give up surplus funds to government apparently for the federal consolidated funds.
According to details, the fee for application and modification of generation licence has been jacked up from Rs40,000 to Rs 59,852 for up to one megawatt. The generation licence fee for more than one MW up to 10 MW has been increased to Rs 119,704 from Rs 80,000, for more than 10 MW up to 20 MW Rs 179,556 from Rs 120,000, more than 20 MW up to 50 MW Rs 239,408 from Rs 160,000 and for more than 50 MW up to 100 MW Rs 299,260 from Rs 200,000 while above 100 MW Rs 598,520 from Rs 400,000.
The application and modification transmission licence fee for national grid has been increased from Rs 200,000 to Rs 299,260 and for special purpose transmission licence has also been increased to Rs 179,556 from Rs 120,000. Similarly, the application and modification distribution licence fee has also been increased. The fee will be charged for processing the licence will be Rs 59,852 instead of Rs 40,000 for up to to 1 MW while more than 1 MW up to 2 MW Rs 89,778 instead of Rs 60,000. For more than 2 MW up to 5 MW, fee will be charged by Rs 239,408 from Rs 160,000, for more than 5 MW up to 10 MW Rs 359,112 from Rs 240,000, for more than 10 MW up to 20 MW Rs 718,224 from Rs 480,000, for more than 20 MW up to 50 MW Rs 1,197,040 instead of previous fee of Rs 800,000 and fee for above 50 MW will stand at Rs 1,496,300 instead of previous Rs 1,000,000.
In accordance to the fees pertaining to tariff standards and procedures Regulations 200, fee structure has been increased in this regards. For generation licencees fee will be charged as Rs 89,778 instead of Rs 60,000 for up to 1 MW, for more than 1 MW up to 10 MW Rs 239,408 instead of Rs 160,000, more than 10 MW up to 20 MW Rs 359,112 instead of Rs 240,000, for more than 20 MW up to 50 MW Rs 478,816 from Rs 320,000, for more than 51 MW up to 100 MW Rs 718,224 from Rs 480,000 and for above 100 MW generation licence fee will be charged as Rs 1,197,040 instead of Rs 800,000. Similarly, for transmission licencees fee of Rs 1,197,040 instead of Rs 800,000 will be charged from National Grid Co and Rs 478,816 instead of Rs 320,000 for special purpose transmission licencees will be Rs 478,816 instead of Rs 320,000.
Again, the fresh application for distribution licencees will stand at Rs 59,852 from Rs 40,000 for up to to 1 MW, for more than 1 MW up to 2 MW Rs 89,778 instead of Rs 60,000, for more than 2 MW up to 5 MW Rs 149,630 from Rs 100,000, for more than 15 MW up to 25 MW Rs 359,112 from Rs 240,000, for more than 25 MW up to 50 MW Rs 478,816 instead of Rs 320,000 and for above 50 MW Rs 718,224 from Rs 480,000 has been decided in the fresh details.