Power companies are seeking to collect Rs46.99 billion from consumers, with a hearing currently underway at the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The decision will impact all electricity consumers in the country.

The hearing, presided over by NEPRA Chairman Wasim Akhtar, focuses on the power companies’ request for the Rs46.99 billion, filed for the last quarter of the previous financial year.

Officials attribute the demand to increased capacity charges, citing a decrease in electricity sales as the reason for the rise.

The member for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at NEPRA questioned the companies, demanding they clarify the amount of electricity they have drawn and the allocated quotas.

The member for Sindh, Rafique Sheikh, expressed frustration with the distribution companies, demanding an explanation for the increased capacity charges. He criticized the lack of transparency and demanded concrete data instead of general statements regarding the decline in electricity sales.

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Officials revealed that the decrease in electricity sales is attributed to solarization and the refusal of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (PESCO) and the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) to implement net metering.

The member for Sindh expressed anger at the refusal to implement net metering, questioning who is preventing its installation. PESCO officials clarified that the decision was made by the PESCO board.

The member countered that the board’s decision overrides NEPRA rules and questioned the qualifications of the board’s chairman. He further inquired about the reasons for refusing consumers access to net metering. NEPRA officials acknowledged that the issue of net metering is most prevalent in PESCO.