The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has announced that it will initiate a formal debate on the “load factor” for electricity users in Karachi, following a proposal by Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI).
The request from KATI also demands the immediate withdrawal of the recent fuel surcharge and calls for release of a promised Rs 33 billion incremental consumption package from the COVID-period — a package which members argue remains unpaid.
According to NEPRA’s Sindh-region technical member, efforts are underway to address power tariff issues and industrial concerns, and the upcoming debate aims to examine whether current load-factor benchmarks remain appropriate given evolving consumption patterns.
Industrial stakeholders argue that Karachi’s industry — under the current tariff regime — is shouldering disproportionate costs, effectively subsidising loss-making power distribution in other regions.
If conducted, the debate could result in adjustments to tariff structure for industrial consumers — potentially relieving longstanding pressure on the industrial sector in Karachi.