Consumers may soon receive financial relief in the form of lower electricity bills, as the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has reportedly scheduled a hearing on August 4 to consider a discount under the quarterly tariff adjustment. According to reports, the proposed relief will apply to the April–June 2025 quarter.

 

Reports suggest that the aggregate discount requested by power distribution companies (DISCOs) sits at a staggering Rs53.93 billion. Officials have reportedly proposed adjustments that include market fees, capacity charges and transmission costs. 

 

Consumers in Faisalabad are likely to witness the bulk of the overall relief as Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) has reportedly requested an adjustment of Rs15.97 billion. Users in Lahore are also expected to witness reductions in electricity bills as Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has sought a quarterly tariff adjustment of Rs12.75 billion.

 

Data from reports suggests that the Tribal Areas Electricity Supply Company (Tesco) has asked for the lowest tariff adjustment out of all the DISCOs, with the requested adjustment sitting at just Rs2.55 billion. Reports reveal that NEPRA has invited all relevant stakeholders and parties to register their objections prior to August 4. Reports claim that any decision made by NEPRA is likely to result in a nationwide reduction in electricity prices. 

 

While DISCOs are pushing for financial relief, it merits a mention that a recent report by the Auditor General of Pakistan implicated eight DISCOS in a staggering financial fraud case amounting to Rs244 billion. According to reports, the Discos overcharged users to hide the true magnitude of power theft, line losses and major operational inefficiencies.

 

The Auditor General’s report indicates that Electric Supply Companies of Islamabad (Iesco), Lahore (Lesco), Hyderabad (Hesco), Multan (Mepco), Peshawar (Pesco), Quetta (Qesco), Sukkur (Sepco), and Tribal Areas (Tesco) grossly overbilled consumers from 2023-24. As per the data, consumers were overbilled for a staggering 900 million units of power.

 

Details from the audit suggest that five discos overcharged consumers by a whopping Rs47.81 billion in a single month. Reports reveal that 278,649 consumers faced higher bills as a result of this action by these discos.

 

According to reports, consumers in Quetta bore the brunt of the fraud as Qesco passed on a staggering Rs148 billion in extra charges to agricultural users. Authorities levied inflated tube well charges in the region to reduce the financial losses faced by Qesco.