Nepra reserves decision on Discos’ petition seeking transfer of Rs96.5 billion to consumers

Islamabad-National Electric Power Regulator Authority (NEPRA) has reserved judgment on the petition of Discos for the transfer of around Rs 96.50 billion to power consumers on account of monthly and quarterly adjustments.
Presided over by NEPRA Chairman, Tauseef H. Farooqi, the regulator conducted separate hearings on the XWapda Discos demand for the transfer of burden of Rs 91.367 billion to power consumers on account of adjustments for the first two quarters (July- Sept 2020 and Oct-Dec 2020) of the current fiscal year and around Rs 5 billion under fuel price adjustment for February 2021 for XWapda Discos.  If the  demand is given approval, it will have an impact of Rs 0.91 per unit on the power consumers.
In its petition submitted to NEPRA, XWapda Discos have demanded Rs 44.709 billion for the first quarter of 2020-21(July 2020 to September 2020) and Rs 46.658 billion for the second quarter of 2020-21(October 2020 to December 2020) under quarterly adjustments on account of variation in Power Purchase Price(PPP).
In its petition,  the XWapda Discos have demanded Rs 9.287 billion on account of transmission & distribution losses on Monthly Fuel Price adjustments.  
Under the quarterly adjustments for the first two quarters, LESCO has demanded for the highest adjustment of Rs 21.113 billion, followed by PESCO Rs 15.334 billion, MEPCO Rs 13.952 billion, FESCO  Rs 8.397 billion, GEPCO Rs 7.741 billion, IESCO Rs  7.409 billion, SEPCO Rs 6.834 billion, QESCO Rs 5.981 billion, and HESCO Rs 5.921 billion. The Tribal Electric Company (TESCO) has however shown saving of Rs 1.316 billion in its account. For the first quarter,  LESCO has demanded for the highest adjustment of Rs 11.299 billion, followed by PESCO Rs 7.824 billion, MEPCO Rs 7.092 billion, GEPCO Rs 4.185 billion, HESCO Rs 3.818 billion, IESCO Rs 3.414 billion, SEPCO Rs 3.046 billion, QESCO Rs 2.358 billion and FESCO  Rs 2.351 billion. The TESCO has,  however shown a  saving of Rs 680 million in its account.
For the first quarter on account of Capacity Purchase Price,  the Discos have demanded Rs 33.392 billion, Variable O&M Rs 2.527 billion, UoSC &MoF Rs 2.801 billion, and Rs 5.989 billion as an impact of transmission & distribution losses on Monthly Fuel Price adjustments.  
For the second quarter,  LESCO has demanded for the highest adjustment of Rs 9.814 billion, followed by PESCO Rs 7.510 billion, MEPCO Rs 6.860 billion, FESCO  Rs 6.046 billion, IESCO Rs 3.995 billion, SEPCO Rs 3.788 billion, QESCO Rs 3.623 billion, GEPCO Rs 3.556 billion, HESCO Rs 2.103 billion, IESCO Rs 3.414 billion, SEPCO Rs 3.046 billion, and QESCO Rs 2.358 billion. TESCO has, however shown a saving of Rs 636 million in its account.
For the second quarter on account of Capacity Purchase Price,  the Discos have demanded Rs 36.910 billion, Variable O&M Rs 2.661 billion, UoSC &MoF Rs 3.789 billion and Rs 3.298 billion as an impact of Transmission &Distribution losses on Monthly Fuel Price adjustments.    
Similarly, NEPRA also conducted hearing on CPPA petition for an increase of Rs 0.6573 per unit in power tariff under fuel price adjustment for February 2021 for XWapda Discos.
In its petition, the CPPA said it had charged consumers a reference fuel tariff of Rs 4.1414 per unit in February while the actual fuel cost turned out to be higher. Hence, it should be allowed to charge Rs 0.6573 per unit as additional cost from consumers. The petition for tariff increase was filed by CPPA on behalf of  XWapda distribution companies (Discos).
According to the data provided to NEPRA by CPPA, the energy generation in February 2021 was recorded at 7281.01 GWh at the cost of Rs 34.311 billion (Rs 4.7123 per unit). The total electricity sold to Discos was 6996.37 GWh for Rs 33.573 billion. The total transmission losses during February were to 3.91 per cent. As per the data submitted by the CPPA the share of hydropower generation in February was 27.93 per cent or 2033 GWh, which was almost, double than January 2021
Power generation from coal-fired power plants decreased from 2,559 GWh (31.68 per cent of total generation) in January to 1902.98 GWh in February. The cost of the generation however increased from Rs 6.47 per unit in January to Rs 7.0621. The use of RFO power generation decreased from 974 GWh (12 per cent of total generation) to only 77.31 GWh or 1.06 per cent. The tariff for RFO based electricity also decreased from Rs 12.3460 per unit in January to Rs 11.8971 per unit. No HSD based electricity was generated in February as compared to 46 GWh during January.
Electricity generation in February from gas-based power plants was 906.37 GWh or 12.45 per cent, which was less than 1,333.80 GWh (16.751 per cent of total generation) during the previous month. However, the cost of gas based electricity increased from Rs 7.6191 per unit in January to Rs 7.7156 per unit in February. 
The generation of RLNG based electricity increased from 916.42 GWh (11.34 per cent of total generation) in January 2021 to 1271.04 GWh or 17.46 per cent in February. The cost of the electricity however increased from Rs 8.3184 per unit in January to 8.8252 per unit in February.
Nuclear based power generation was 791.91 GWh or 10.88 per cent at Rs 1.0071 per unit and electricity imported from Iran was 29.65 GWh at Rs 9.6960 per unit. The price of mixed generation was 13.37 GWh or 0.18 per cent, whereas electricity produced from bagasse was 99.27 GWh at Rs 5.9822 per unit. The energy generated from wind was recorded at 98.11 GWh or 1.35 per cent of total generation and solar at 57.06 GWh or 0.78 per cent of total generation in February. NEPRA will conduct public hearing on the CPPA petition on March 30, 2021.
A hearing was also conducted by NEPRA on the petition filed by CPPA-G for determination of its market operation Fee for FY 2020-21.
Nepra has concluded the hearing and reserved the judgment.

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