CPPA proposes 45 paisa per unit refund

ISLAMABAD: The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has proposed a 45 paisa per unit refund in Discos’ tariffs for April 2018 under monthly fuel price mechanism.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) will hear a petition filed by the CPPA-G on May 24, 2018. The consumers who use above 300 units monthly were being refunded the overcharged amount for a couple of years due to substantial reduction in furnace oil prices. 

The CPPA, in its petition said that it has purchased 0.12 GWh electricity generated on High Speed Diesel (HSD) in April 2018 at a cost of Rs 16.8919 per unit. The total generation from hydel sources was 1,527.84 GWh accounting for just 15.07 per cent of total generation. The hydel generation had been reduced after a decline in water releases from Tarbela and Mangla. 

The CPPA purchased 1,550.54 GWh electricity produced on Residual Fuel Oil (RFO), 15.30 per cent of total generation, at a cost of Rs 11.2224 per unit whereas the cost of electricity generated by using indigenous gas was Rs 5.0652 per unit and its total share in electricity generation was 1,646.04 GWh accounting for 16.24 per cent of total generation during the entire month. The electricity generated from RLNG was 2,699.08 GWh making a 26.63 per cent of total generation, at a cost of Rs 9.0096 per unit. 

Nuclear power plants delivered 835.95 GWh of electricity at a rate of Rs 1.0400 per unit, cheapest amongst all fuels. The electricity imported from Iran was 49.40 GWh at a price of Rs 11.57 per unit. The 88.63 GWh was generated through baggasse at a cost of Rs 6.1741 and206.67 GWh and 70.83 GWh were purchased from wind and solar respectively. 

According to the petition, total energy generated in April 2018 was 10,135.08 GWh at a total price of Rs 61.443 billion. The net electricity delivered to power distribution companies’ was 9,877.93 GWh at a cost of Rs 61.983 billion. Out of total electricity generation, losses stood at 2.45 per cent (248 GWh at a cost of Rs 0.1592 per unit. 

The CPPA, in its petition has stated that fuel cost for April 2018 has been calculated at Rs 6.2729 per unit against the reference price of Rs 6.7227 per unit. On the basis of data, the CPPA has proposed 45 paisa unit refund to the consumers under monthly fuel adjustment mechanism.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN