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Another Rs4.66 per unit hike in power bills expected next month

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  • The CPPA is representing Discos in the case.
  • NEPRA holds public hearing on CPPA petition.
  • NEPRA asks CPPA about operating plants on imported fuel.

ISLAMABAD: Electricity consumers are expected to bear an extra burden of Rs33 billion if the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approves Rs4.66 a unit proposed increase in power prices in January 2024 bills, The News reported.

The proposed price enhancement is attributed to the fuel adjustment for November 2023.

The public hearing on the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) plea was conducted by the NEPRA. The CPPA was representing Discos in the case.

NEPRA questioned the CPPA about operating power plants on imported fuel while shutting down more cost-effective plants for maintenance. Notably, the maintenance-related shutdown of the Thar coal-based plant contributed to higher electricity prices.

Moreover, a 13% decrease in electricity consumption and the utilisation of power plants running on costly imported LNG fuel in November 2023 added to the financial burden on consumers.

The NEPRA chairman stated that when demand falls below the reference level, negative growth in power generation raises costs. This leads to positive adjustments in monthly fuel charges (FCAs) and quarterly adjustments (QTAs). Due to low-capacity utilisation, capacity charges rise as consumers must cover fixed charges at all costs. In its petition, CPPA had requested previous adjustments of Rs15.9 billion (Rs2.117/unit) to be passed on to consumers in January 2024 bills.

Responding to allegations of overbilling, NEPRA asserted its track record of implementing past decisions and vowed to enforce its recent decision. The regulator issued explanations to power distribution companies (Discos) and indicated the initiation of legal actions against them. In response to a question about recent loadshedding, the CPPA stated, “Discos manage loads due to losses, hydel generation has decreased, expensive generation is occurring, and gas supply is unavailable to power plants, leading to load management. Additionally, in line with government policy, we implement 2-hour load management.”

Meanwhile, the power division in a separate statement attributed recent loadshedding on December 25th and 26th to multiple grid station failures in the Multan region and other Discos. The tripping of 132kv, 220kv, and 500kv grid stations, coupled with reduced hydel generation due to fog, created system constraints. A 1,600 MW shortfall in generation was attributed to canal closure, and a 700 MW shortage was due to limited LNG availability.

The Power Division is actively working to minimise shortfalls, using furnace oil to compensate for the LNG shortage and generate 800 MW. Loadshedding was necessary to manage system constraints and ongoing efforts are in place to stabilise the system.

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Combating Terrorism: Twelve Terrorists Destroyed in Separate Operations by Security Forces

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Eleven terrorists and Kharijis were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations in Balochistan’s Miran Shah District and North Waziristan. One of the victims was Sana Alias Baru, a high-value target.

In the vicinity of Miran Shah in North Waziristan, security forces successfully fought the Khwarij, leading to the death of eight and injury of six.

The general region of Balgatar, Kech District, Balochistan was earlier the scene of an Intelligence-Based Operation that resulted in the deaths of four terrorists, one of them was a high-value target.

Authorities in Kech District were actively seeking Baru, who had a pivotal role in recruiting members of the so-called Majeed Brigade, particularly suicide bombers.

Among the terrorists’ possessions were weapons and ammo.

In order to eradicate any lingering terrorists in the vicinity, a sanitation operation is currently under progress.

With unwavering resolve, the Pakistani security forces will eradicate the terrorist threat from the nation.

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Constitutional Bench Gets to Work: Petitions Dismissed, Fines Slapped on Frivolous Petitioners

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As of today, pending matters are being heard by the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Bench, which was established under the 26th Amendment to the Constitution.

On its first day of operation, the six-judge Constitutional Bench presided over by Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan dismissed several frivolous petitions, including one challenging legislation enacted by the PDM government, and fined the petitioner twenty thousand rupees for bringing the case.

Justices Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi, Musarrat Hilali, and Naeem Akhtar Afghan make up the Constitutional Bench, along with Justice Amin.

The bench rejected the appeal challenging the decision of the Supreme Court to appoint Qazi Faez Isa, a former chief justice of Pakistan, to the position of chief justice of the Balochistan high court.

In addition to upholding the Registrar Office’s objections, the Constitutional Bench rejected a petition asking for a change to the general election date on 8 February.

It has become an infructuous affair, the bench said, regarding the review of the Supreme Court’s decision on the review of judgment and order.

Justice Amin Uddin told the Attorney General that the Supreme Court has acknowledged parliament’s involvement in legislation in response to his claim that the verdict has commented on parliament’s position as legislative.

The bench found the petitioner’s claims to be baseless and fined them 20,000 rupees, dismissing their request to outlaw marriages between government employees and foreign nationals.

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Ahsan says all available resources should be used to eradicate smog at the air pollution meeting.

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According to Ahsan Iqbal, the country’s minister of planning and development, a non-traditional approach is required to address the pollution problem, and every available resource would be used to eradicate this grave issue.

Children are disproportionately affected by pollution, the Planning Minister stated during a special meeting on smog and air pollution in Islamabad.

He claimed that cooperation between the federal government and the provinces is urgently needed to address the various problems that climate change has caused in Pakistan.

Smog is interfering with everyday activities, the Minister added, and it has grown to be a serious threat to our future.

Burning crop residue is the cause of smog, he claimed.

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