ISLAMABAD - The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) is all set to take up today (Friday) Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA)s plea seeking hefty 35 percent increase in power tariff with net increase of Rs 3.5 per unit ostensibly for Discos fuel adjustments. The power consumers of the country should get ready to face a historic 'electric shock as the NEPRA while breaking all previous records of raise in electricity rates is expected to give approval to the fuel adjustments of Power Distributing Companies (Discos) sought by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), sources well aware of the development informed, adding, that in total 9249 giga watt hour (GWh) of electricity was sold to Discos during this specified time duration. Sources further told that other than power consumers of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and consumers (lifeline consumers) that use below fifty units of electricity would get exemption from this expected high ceiling rise in power rates after historic increase in power tariff. Discos will charge extra Rs3 per unit from the consumers except the consumers of KESC and lifeline consumers. It is important to note here that CPPA in its writ petition with NEPRA has pleaded that earlier NEPRA had set RS 3.60 per unit as a reference cost of fuel for the month of August, which in fact remained at Rs6.66per unit in the country. Further, reliance on power generation through furnace oil remained high as wind power generation remained very low so average cost of fuel went up during this period of time. It was also learnt that cost of electricity generation being sold to Discos remained at Rs61billion and 61carores during this specific period of time. According to available official break up of electricity generation, power generated through hydel was 3657GWh, Coal12.70GWh, high speed diesel (HSD) 142.88GWh, furnace Oil 3352GWh, gas 2101GWh, nuclear 184.28GWh, and wind power 43GW. Further, 262GWh transmission losses of the Discos were surfaced during this specified span of time. It is worth mentioning here that on the one hand the power ministry in its revised summary sent to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has sought four per cent raise in electricity tariff, while on the other hand Nepra, if consider the request of CPPA, is expected to give go ahead to proposed 35 percent increase in tariff thus adding to the woes and worries of overburdened masses and a flood of inflation to play. It is likely that by the start of next week, the PM might approve the proposed raise in electricity, sources said, adding that earlier the power ministry had sent a summary seeking six per cent hike in electricity tariff but the Prime Minister turned it down and directed to revise it. The cash-strapped government will earn Rs 3 billion in one month after this 4 per cent projected lift up. Economic pundits while talking to TheNation have argued that ratio of electricity tariff in Pakistan is comparatively higher than that in other countries. This proposed raise in electricity tariff would have adverse effects and far-reaching implications to all the countrymen. When the increase is implemented businesses will have to push their prices up. The poor, just like every other consumer, will have to dig deeper into their pockets, they said, adding that however it is yet too difficult to judge what impact this will have on prices in other industrial sectors. They said electricity is an important and basic fuel in any industry and increase in its tariff would raise the cost of production. They urged to the government to take measures for brining down the electricity tariff in a bid to provide relief to general public and business community, as under these circumstances, various Pakistani products are facing a serious challenge in the international market, because the prices of oil, gas and electricity are increasing with each passing day. Additionally, this raise will multiply prices of commodities in general, since electricity is a prerequisite in the manufacturing of goods. The effect of the price hike will severely cast impact on the poor. This likely hike will have a negative impact on employment opportunities affecting both employers and employees. They were of the view that the fuel hikes have already hit businesses. The increase of electricity tariff will push up inflation, resultantly farmers will suffer because of the electricity price hikes as it will hit their profits hard and further push up the prices of their products.