Power consumers may see a refund of Rs. 0.7057 per unit on their November 2024 electricity bills, due to overpayments made in September. Ex-Wapda distribution companies (XWDISCOs) have suggested this refund for the month of November bills.
The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has submitted a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), seeking approval for a fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for September. NEPRA has scheduled a public hearing on October 30 to review the proposed adjustment and verify that power dispatch followed the economic merit order (EMO). If approved, the refund will be issued to most consumers, excluding lifeline users, households consuming up to 300 units, electric vehicle charging stations, pre-paid users, and agricultural consumers.
This refund would mark the third straight month of FCA reductions, following an 18-month period of continuous increases. In July’s FCA ruling, NEPRA instructed distribution companies to refund Rs. 0.369 per unit in September bills. From January 2023 to June 2024, the FCA was positive, causing extra charges for consumers, with a peak of Rs. 7.05 per unit in January 2024.
According to the CPPA, September’s reference fuel charges were Rs. 9.8006 per unit, while the actual costs were Rs. 9.0949 per unit, resulting in the proposed refund of Rs. 0.7057 per unit.
