In a move that would further burden the financially strained citizens, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) notified on Friday the Rs3.33 per unit hike in the fuel cost adjustment charges for May.

“The above adjustment of Rs.3.3287/kWh shall be applicable to all the consumer categories except Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) and lifeline consumers,” Nepra said in a notification.

The electric shock comes a day after the government approved up to 51% or Rs7.12 increase in the per-unit price of electricity from July.

As many as 32.5 million consumers would pay an additional amount of at least Rs580 billion in this fiscal year which is over and above the existing cost of electricity. Many believe such an increase in tariff was due to the mismanagement and wrong energy policies of past three decades.

According to the notification, the additional charges would be included in the July electricity bills for consumers. “The said adjustment shall be shown separately in the consumers’ bills on the basis of units billed to the consumers in the month of May 2024. XWDISCOs shall reflect the fuel charges adjustment in respect of May 2024 in the billing month of July 2024,” it said.