Islamabad:
On Tuesday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) noticed the electricity stariff -plate increase that punishes consumers for exceeding 200 units instructing the power department to propose a solution for inflated bills that persist for six months, even after a single unit crosses the border.
The committee meeting, led by MNA Junaid Akbar Khan, reviewed audit paras related to the Ministry of Energy. By expressing concern, the President demanded an explanation of the long -term penalty for consumers who exceed the threshold of 200 units once.
Officials informed the Committee on the status of independent power producers (IPPS) and revealed a sharp increase in installed capacity over the years. Committee member Shazia Marri questioned why provinces such as Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa continue to endure up to 16 hours of load despite a surplus in electricity generation.
The power secretary informed the committee that 58% of electricity users are falling under 200-devices the plate, with subsidized rates that now benefit 18 million consumer up from 11 million earlier. He recognized the issue of high bills that lasted months for consumers who violate the border once.
“To increase the plate limit, a higher subsidy is needed,” he said, adding that the government is aiming to reform the system in 2027, which switches to direct subsidies using Bisp data.
The Ministry of Energy also noted that the installed capacity of IPPS increased from 9,765 MW in 2015 to 25,642MW in 2024, with annual capacity payments jumping from RS141 billion to RS1.4 trillion.
Committee Member Syed Naveed Qamar contested the Power Division’s claim that coal was the most important driving force for high electricity costs. Meanwhile, Junaid Akbar raised doubts about reports of 200% electricity generation from Bagasse and called the numbers unrealistic.
