ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Saturday raised the price of electricity, which had been subsidized under the prime minister’s relief package for the industrial and agricultural sectors, by Rs2.32 per unit.
NEPRA sent the matter to the federal government for the notification.
The rate of relief package has thus increased from Rs22.98 per unit to Rs25.30 per unit.
The increase will come into effect from November.
NEPRA chairman had to cast his casting vote to decide the matter after two members of the Authority namely Amina Ahmad and Maqsood Anwar Khan wrote dissenting notes.
In their notes, they declared Rs25.30 per unit baseless.
Two members suggested the suspension of the package temporarily.
However, NEPRA chairman cast his vote in the favour of its continuity.
According to the estimate made by the NEPRA, the exact marginal cost has reached Rs29.65 per unit.
The NEPRA has sought from the Power Division complete data by November 25.
The Authority chairman has warned that if data is not received, the package can either be suspended or abolished altogether.
The prime minister had introduced the package for the development of agricultural and industrial sectors.
Under the package, the rate of electricity for industrial sector had been brought down from Rs34 per unit to Rs22.98 per unit and that for agricultural sector from Rs38 per unit to Rs22.98 per unit.
