KARACHI: President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Shamim Ahmed Firpo has urged K-Electric to avoid charging peak hour rate all day and implement the concept of time of use (ToU) across-the-board.
It will substantially reduce the electricity bills for industrial, commercial and domestic consumers, said KCCI President in a statement here on Monday.
Shamim Ahmed Firpo pointed out that ToU allowed high charges for just four hours only whereas the electricity consumption during the remaining 20 hours each day was supposed to be charged at off-peak rate. But, he continued, it was highly unfair on part of K-Electric to keep charging at peak hours rate throughout the day which not only enhanced the cost of doing business for industries but also overburdens the common man in the ongoing era of inflation.
He said the ToU concept bifurcates peak hours in Karachi from 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. and the remaining 20-hour time was considered as off-peak hours.
President KCCI further mentioned that National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has been notifying peak and off-peak hour rates since 2006 for industrial customers and 2009 onwards for commercial and residential customers, which were also available at NEPRA's website.
According to NEPRA, peak hours and off-peak hours for residential and commercial consumers were Rs 18 and Rs 12 per kwh respectively. Whereas, for industrial consumers, the peak and off-peak hours were Rs 18 and Rs 12.29 down to Rs 12 per kwh depending on the load. It was a matter of grave concern that K-Electric continues to charge peak hours rate all day from majority of its consumers and provides relief under ToU facility on the basis of demand only, not by right. KCCI President said K-Electric was of the opinion that this facility could immediately be extended only to those consumers who have digital meters installed in their premises.
He also emphasized that it should be one of the top priority for the utility service provider to install digital meters across-the-board so that the common man, commercial and industrial consumers could avail this facility.
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