Tag: power bills

  • Pakistani celebs rally against rising power bills

    Pakistani celebs rally against rising power bills

    Rising inflation across society has hit all sectors, leaving now one immune from its effects, not even celebrities. A few days ago, senior Pakistani actor Rashid Mehmood made headlines after sharing his hefty electricity bill for June 2024. His story resonated with millions on social media, who expressed their support and shared their own struggles with rising costs and inflation. Many reported finding it increasingly difficult to manage household expenses.

    Recently, more actors have found the courage to speak out againsy high electricity costs and the burdensome bills they are receiving.

    Humaira Channa Speaks Out

    Famous singer Humaira Channa, known for hit Lollywood songs, said, “You all know about the current situation in Pakistan. We are suffering from heavy bills. I urge government officials to give us relief. I got a bill worth 60,000 PKR, and we only use one AC at night. We are barely managing because we have kids studying in university, and we have to handle everything on our own.”

    Watch the video:

    Nooran Lal’s Struggle

    Another renowned singer, Nooran Lal, also opened up about her difficulties. She said, “I got two meters at home to keep our units controlled, yet we received heavy bills on both meters—40,000 and 33,000 PKR, along with taxes. We are artists with no other businesses and are barely managing. As a single woman running a household, it is really tough to deal with these finances. Is this what we deserve?”

    Maria Mir’s Concerns

    Singer Maria Mir also talked about receiving heavy electricity bills, stating that it has become extremely challenging for her to pay them.

    Watch the video here:

    Zahid Sharif’s Desperate Measures

    A former Pakistani Olympic player, Zahid Sharif, was reported to have considered selling his kidney to pay his electricity bill.

    Read the post here:

    Shugufta Ejaz’s Experience

    Even seasoned actor Shugufta Ejaz, who is relatively well-off, has expressed her distress over receiving hefty electricity bills.

    Read her posts here :

  • Electricity bills to reflect Rs3.07 per unit hike in December

    Electricity bills to reflect Rs3.07 per unit hike in December

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has officially sanctioned a Rs3.07 per unit increase in electricity prices for October 2023, attributed to Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA), as communicated in its notification on Tuesday.

    This tariff adjustment will be separately reflected in the power bills based on the units consumed by consumers of all ex-Wapda DISCOs (XWDISCOs) during October 2023. NEPRA has specified that XWDISCOs are to incorporate the FCA in the billing cycle for December 2023.

    It is important to note that this tariff adjustment does not apply to K.Electric (KE) consumers, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS), or lifeline consumers.

    The adjustment in the approved tariff for Ex-WAPDA DISCOs was prompted by variations in fuel charges for October 2023, as indicated in the request submitted by CPPA-G via a letter dated November 15, 2023, the authority clarified. NEPRA emphasised the need for XWDISCOs to adhere strictly to court orders while implementing the FCA.

    In a separate development, a NEPRA inquiry report disclosed that numerous electricity consumers in Pakistan were overcharged during July and August of the current year. 

    The report highlighted that distribution companies (DISCOs) billed consumers for over 40 days, leading to widespread overbilling. NEPRA identified MEPCO, followed by GEPCO, FESCO, LESCO, and HESCO, as the main contributors to this overbilling, holding all DISCOs responsible for this unjustified practice.

    The report recommended legal actions against power distribution companies, including K-Electric Limited (KEL), under NEPRA Fine Regulations, 2021, for violating the provisions of the NEPRA Act, Consumer Service Manual (CSM), and tariff terms and conditions.