ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a negative Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) of *Rs1.9857 per unit, providing relief to electricity consumers of power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Electric in their *June, July, and August 2026 electricity bills.
According to NEPRA’s detailed determination, the adjustment stems from variations in the Power Purchase Price (PPP) and related factors during the *first quarter (January–March) of calendar year 2026. The Authority has approved an overall negative adjustment of **Rs67.173 billion, which translates into a reduction of *Rs1.9857 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for eligible consumers.
The quarterly adjustment process followed the determination of consumer-end tariffs for 2026 and the subsequent approval of a uniform national tariff by the federal government. Power distribution companies submitted adjustment requests based on changes in power purchase costs, while the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guarantee (CPPA-G) later reported additional variations in capacity charges, leading to addendums worth Rs63.937 billion.
To ensure transparency, NEPRA conducted a public hearing on May 19, 2026, inviting stakeholders to review and comment on the proposed adjustments. The Authority relied on data certified by CPPA-G for its final determination and clarified that any future discrepancies or omissions would be adjusted in subsequent quarters.
NEPRA also directed CPPA-G to provide plant-wise monthly capacity charge data for all grid-connected power plants in future, instead of consolidated figures, to enhance transparency in tariff calculations.
The Authority considered several cost components in its assessment, including capacity charges, variable operation and maintenance costs, use-of-system charges, market operator fees, and the impact of transmission and distribution (T&D) losses. For net-metered electricity exported to the grid, the cost was calculated at Rs25.32 per kWh, based on the notified national average PPP.
The approved relief will be passed on to consumers through electricity bills over a three-month period. However, lifeline consumers, consumers availing incremental consumption packages, and prepaid electricity users will not be eligible for the adjustment.
In line with existing legal and policy provisions, NEPRA has extended the same relief to *K-Electric consumers, ensuring that eligible customers in Karachi also benefit from the *Rs1.9857 per unit reduction during June, July, and August 2026.
The decision is expected to provide meaningful relief to electricity consumers amid ongoing concerns over rising energy costs and affordability challenges across the country.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
