Islamabad, 05 June 2024, (GNP): The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has revised the Consumer Service Manual, 2021, placing limitations on power companies regarding the allowance of multiple installments for electricity bills.
Consumers have lost another option for paying their electricity bills in multiple installments due to new regulations approved by Nepra.
The power regulatory authority has revised the regulations to provide some flexibility for users to settle their dues.
The notification specified that electricity bill installments would be allowed only once a year, and no markup would be charged on the payment of the first installment if made within the due date.
Consumers will incur a 14% markup on other installments, and any requests for an extension of the due date must be made before the due date.
Power distribution companies (Discos) have been instructed to generate computerized bills when allowing installments and extensions on the due date.
In August of last year, the interim government considered a proposal to allow power consumers to pay their dues in installments as a measure to provide relief to the inflation-hit public.
The caretaker government contemplated allowing consumers with bills of up to 400 units to pay their electricity bills in installments over six months.
This move was seen as an attempt to ease the financial burden on households struggling with rising living costs.
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Additionally, the stricter policies for the power sector and rising electricity rates were influenced by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) stringent conditions for loan disbursements to Pakistan. These conditions required the country to implement fiscal reforms and ensure greater financial discipline within its power sector.
The changes in the regulations have raised concerns among consumer rights groups, who argue that the reduced flexibility in bill payments will disproportionately affect lower-income households. They urge the government to reconsider these measures and explore alternative ways to support consumers facing economic hardships.
