KARACHI: Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Circuit bench yesterday quashed fuel adjustment charges from electricity bills. LHC Rawalpindi Circuit bench while hearing plea moved against collection of fuel adjustment charges from consumers in electricity bills struck down fuel adjustment charges. Justice Jawadul Hassan directed WAPDA and NEPRA not to charge tax in electricity bills of consumers. LHC judge has also summoned Islamabad Electric Supply Company Chief on September 15.

Meanwhile, Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority and K-Electric on petition against collection of fuel adjustment charges and taxes in electricity bills.

Hearing was held in SHC on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman's constitutional petition against collection of huge amount in form of fuel adjustment charges and taxes by K-Electric.

After initial arguments of Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman's counsel, SHC issued notices to NEPRA and K-Electric. Both have been directed to submit their response by September 9. Advocate Usman Farooq, lawyer of petitioner Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman while arguing said K-Electric should be stopped from over-billing and collection of fuel adjustment and other charges including sales and income tax, TV license fee in electricity bill. He also requested SHC to conduct forensic audit of K-Electric's accounts. Power utility submitted request to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority to hike Rs 14.53 per unit in tariff under fuel adjustment charges. Power utility requested increase of Rs14.53/unit from April to June 2022.

On August 11, NEPRA increased power tariff for K-Electric consumers by Rs 11.10 per unit for June 2022 and increase will not be applicable for lifeline consumers. On June 4, NEPRA raised power tariff for K-Electric consumers by Rs 9.66 per unit.

K-Electric for its August 2022 bills has already charged an average of more than Rs 46 per unit from its residential consumers. A consumer stated that his bill shows Rs 28,591 for consumption of 627 units only. Summary of bill shows Rs 16,917 towards electricity charges that makes Rs 27 per unit. Then adding Rs 364 as uniform quarterly adjustment, while Rs 6,764 added for fuel charges adjustment on account of May and June 2022.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 31 2022

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