ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) concluded on Tuesday a public hearing on fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for K-Electric for the month of September under the monthly fuel adjustment mechanism.

The hearing was presided over by Nepra Chairman Tauseef H Farooqi while member Sindh Rafique Ahmed Sheikh and member Khyber Pakhunkhwa Maqsood Anwar Khan were also present on the occasion.

K-Electric in the petition sought a decrease of Rs 4.62 per unit in tariff under FCA for September. However, as per Nepra calculation, the decrease was Rs 4.70 per unit for the said period.

The consumers would get relief of Rs 7.8 billion owing to the decrease in tariff. However, the decision would not be applicable to the lifeline, agricultural, industrial, and consumers using up to 300 units.

Officials of KE told that RLNG consumption decreased in September besides a 30 percent decrease in its price during the said period. However, furnace oil prices increased while its consumption witnessed a 4 percent decrease during the said period.

They said that the supply of local gas to KE in September had also a positive impact on electricity prices.

Nepra Chairman observed that KE generated three times more costly electricity from its own resources which stood at Rs 37.74 per unit while the cost of electricity purchased from other resources was mere Rs 13.12 per unit.

The KE officials said that cheaper electricity could be generated through the supply of local gas. They have taken up the provision of local gas to KE on priority at both the legal forum and PM Task Force level.

The authority would announce its decisions after reviewing the statistics.