• Base tariff for commercial consumers hiked by Rs8.04.
• Nepra informed about federal cabinet’s decision: sources.
• Cabinet to issue hike notification after Nepra’s approval.

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet, already under severe criticism for a tax-heavy budget, has approved an increase in the base electricity tariff for services, bulk, and agricultural consumers.

The News reported that the cabinet approved increasing the base tariff for commercial consumers by Rs8.04, agriculture consumers by Rs6.62, general services by Rs6.96, and Rs5.96 bulk consumers.

According to government sources, approval was taken from the federal cabinet through circulation summary to increase the base electricity tariff for commercial consumers by Rs8.04 after which the base tariff would be hiked to a maximum of Rs77.15 per unit for commercial consumers from the ongoing month (July).

Following the hike, the base tariff for agricultural consumers has hit Rs46.83 per unit and Rs61.03 per unit for general services, the sources told the publication.

Whereas, after an increase of Rs5.51 per unit, bulk consumers would pay Rs59.96 a unit from July. However, the cabinet maintained the base tariff of electricity for industrial consumers.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has been informed about the cabinet decision. After Nepra’s approval, the federal government is all set to issue a notification to increase the base electricity tariff.

The federal cabinet has approved an increase in the base electricity tariff for domestic consumers by Rs7.12 per unit.

However, all domestic consumers up to 200 units per month have been exempted from the increase for three months from July to September 2024.

The increase in base electricity tariff for domestic and other consumers is proposed to be implemented from July 1.