ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the complaints regarding the “protected consumers” category in electricity billing. A high level committee will be formed to review the issue and recommend reform.
Sources say that consumers who exceed 200 units—even by just one unit—are removed from the protected category and face electricity bills approximately Rs 5,000 higher per month, for the next six months. The committee will consider whether to retain the protected category at 200 units or extend relief up to 300 units, and will submit a report accordingly.
It is already being suggested that the protected slab limit might be increased from 200 to 301 units, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been briefed about the hardships faced by consumers. Members of the National Assembly have argued that it is unfair for consumers to pay so much extra for crossing 200 units by even a small margin.
The committee will review the issue in depth and present its recommendations to the Cabinet. These could resolve the longstanding debate over the 200 unit cap—most of whom consuming minimal units are lower-income households. The current government is making every effort to relieve financial burdens on the poor.
According to Energy Ministry sources, there is a possibility that the non protected tariff might be applicable only for the month the threshold is crossed, not for six consecutive months. The current 201 unit slab had been intentionally implemented by NEPRA and the Power Ministry, they added.
