The revised tariff of Wapda distribution companies (Discos) has bred trouble for the federal government as the new rates would adversely hit revenue targets of four Punjab-based entities - Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Lahore Electric Supply Company, Gujranwala Electric Supply Company and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company.
An analysis of current and revised tariff of eight Discos reveals that rates of four companies, ie Multan Electric Supply Company, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, Quetta Electric Supply Company and Peshawar Electric Supply Company have been revised upward.
At the same time, tariff of remaining four has been slashed up to 75 paisa per unit. As the revised tariff reached concerned ministry and respective Discos last week, the officials were apparently very happy as they said that they had won the case in National Electric Power Regulatory Authority but after the analysis, they looked disappointed.
A comparison of Iesco's tariff shows that electricity rates for the domestic consumers, using 1-100 units would decline by 5 paisa per unit from Rs 2.70 to Rs 2.65 per unit, whereas those consuming 101-300 units would pay 6 paisa per unit less than the existing tariff.
The tariff for consumers using 301-1000 units would come down by 10 paisa per unit but some categories of commercial and industrial consumers would have to pay more than the existing tariff.
However, there would be no change in tariff for the domestic consumers of Lesco, consuming upto 300 units but those who were consuming 1000 units and above would pay 15 paisa and 19 paisa per units respectively. Moreover, Time of Day (ToD) peak and off-peak domestic consumers would pay 75 and 35 paisa per unit more.
The tariff of Gepco's domestic consumers would remain almost the same as only those consumers who consume upto 100 units, would pay 4 paisa per unit less than the existing tariff, whereas the industrial and commercial consumers would have to pay more than the current tariff.
In case of Fesco, tariff for domestic consumers using upto 100 units and 101-300 units would decrease by 40 and 27 paisa per unit respectively. The situation for the industrial and commercial consumers would remain the same as was in other Discos. Nepra increased 12 paisa per unit for domestic consumers of Mepco, consuming 100 units per month while there was no change in other domestic categories.
Tariff for domestic consumers of Hesco, who consume upto 100 units, would increase by 83 paisa per unit, followed by 45 paisa for 101-300 units, 25 paisa for 301-1000 units and 10 paisa for above 1000 units. The tariff for ToD peak would increase by Rs 3.40 per unit and off-peak by 35 paisa per unit.
Commercial consumers would also have to pay 75 paisa per unit more as compared to existing tariff. The domestic consumers of Qesco who consume 100 units per month would be charged Rs 1.15 per unit more, followed by Rs 1 for consumers, using upto 300 units.
Tariff for consumers, consuming from 301 to 1000 units would pay 25 paisa per unit less than the existing tariff whereas there was no change for above 1000 category. There was nominal change in commercial consumers' category but industrial consumers would be hit adversely. The domestic consumers of Pesco, using 100 units, 1000 units and above 1000 units would pay 45 paisa, 40 paisa and Rs 1 more per unit. Commercial consumers using 100 and more units would be charged upto Rs 1.20 per unit.
Official sources told Business Recorder the revised tariff has confused the government and it was neither in a position to notify nor challenge Nepra with it. They said the government has to charge differential tariff and in case of any delay consumers of those companies would approach the courts because there was no justification of charging more from consumers of those companies which were efficient eg Iesco, Gepco, Lesco and Fesco.