*NEPRA Expresses Concern Over Discos’ Performance, National Exchequer Loses Rs 1.226 Billion*

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has expressed serious concern over the performance of electricity distribution companies (Discos’) in several cities of Pakistan, resulting in a loss of Rs1.226 billion to the national exchequer, according to a report by ARY News. The report reveals that while efficient distribution by Discos’ such as Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), and Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) benefited the national exchequer, the inefficiency of power distribution in cities such as Peshawar, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Lahore, and Quetta cost the national treasury Rs127 billion.

The report also highlighted that K Electric saved Rs 2.15 billion by reducing its transmission losses. However, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) incurred a loss of Rs 22 crore for not achieving targets in the capital. Lahore power delivery company caused a loss of Rs 9.3 billion, and Peshawar electric brought about a loss of Rs 64 billion to the national treasury.

On January 13, Nepra approved a Rs 4.49 hike in electricity tariff for K-Electric consumers on account of uniform tariff. The federal government had asked Nepra to notify the additional charge from all K-Electric consumers with effect from January to April 2023. Under the National Electricity Policy 2021, the government may maintain a uniform consumer-end tariff for K-Electric and state-owned power distribution companies.