National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has approved upfront tariff of levelised tariff of 8.3601 cents and 8.6417 cents for first coal-fired power plants of 660x2 and 150MW installed capacity. The Authority gave determination in accordance with Section 31 Sub Section (4) of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 read with Regulation 3 of the Upfront Tariff (Approval & Procedure) Regulations, 2011 (vide SRO 757(1) 2011).
According to a press release, Nepra has introduced new regime of upfront tariff according to which tariff is determined within 10 days of admission of application. In order to arrive at the upfront tariff, the Authority has gone through a rigorous process as provided in Nepra upfront tariff (Approval and Procedure Regulations 2011) and Nepra Tariff (Standard and Procedure Rules 1998).
Nepra takes all major decisions after going through a threadbare mechanism of public hearing where comments and views are invited from general public and stakeholders. As an autonomous regulator of the energy sector the authority has to take into account the interest of all the stakeholders though the general consumer protection remains the main priority of the regulator.
The application of Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Pvt) Ltd for unconditional acceptance of coal upfront tariff for its 660x2MW (gross) Port Qasim Coal-fired power project and Grange Power Limited for its 150MW (net) coal-fired power plant were accepted and levelised tariff of 8.3601 cents and 8.6417 cents was granted respectively.-PR