Electricity consumers are expected to receive a refund of Rs. 0.7057 per unit on their November 2024 bills, following an overpayment in September. This proposal has been put forward by Ex-Wapda distribution companies (XWDISCOs) for the billing month of November.

The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has submitted a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to finalize the fuel price adjustment (FCA) for September. NEPRA has scheduled a public hearing on October 30 to evaluate the justification for the proposed adjustment and to verify that power dispatch adhered to the economic merit order (EMO).

If approved, the refund will apply to all consumer categories except lifeline users, households consuming up to 300 units, electric vehicle charging stations, pre-paid electricity users, and agricultural consumers.

This potential refund would represent the third consecutive month of FCA reductions, following 18 months of consistent increases. In a previous FCA decision for July, NEPRA instructed distribution companies to refund Rs. 0.369 per unit in the September bills. From January 2023 to June 2024, the FCA remained positive, leading to additional charges for consumers, with a peak of Rs. 7.05 per unit in January 2024.

According to the CPPA’s petition, the reference fuel charges for September were Rs. 9.8006 per unit, while the actual costs amounted to Rs. 9.0949 per unit, justifying the proposed refund of Rs. 0.7057 per unit