The power consumers are likely to face another hike in their bills after the distribution companies approached the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority to collect billions under the quarterly adjustments.

The Discos submitted an application to Nepra, requesting it to collect an additional Rs144.69 billion in terms of quarterly adjustment. In this regard, the authority will conduct a hearing on August 23.

It is pertinent to mention that a lawyer Muddassir Chaudhry has submitted an application at the human rights cell of the Supreme Court against the tariff hike.

Read: Those using up to 200 units per month will be exempted from tariff hike: PM Shehbaz

The consumers will be burdened with another hike after the Nepra on July 26, approved an increase in basic electricity tariff by Rs7.50 per unit from July 1.

The measure was aimed at complying with the International Monetary Fund conditions to unlock the long-delayed programme. The hike was announced after the Federal Cabinet on July 22 approved the hike using a circulation summary.

The government increased the price between Rs3 and Rs7.5 per unit or kilowatt hours for several consumers.

The government proposed an increase of Rs3 per unit for the non-protected residential consumers using 1 to 100 units which will take the current per unit cost from Rs13.48/unit to Rs16.48/unit.

For the residential consumers using above 700 units, the government proposed a hike of Rs 7.5/unit from the existing Rs35.22/unit to Rs 42.72/unit. The new tariff will take effect from July 1 after the government issues a notification following a decision by the Nepra.