Pakistan’s regulator proposes higher grid-sharing charges — Dawn
Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority, Nepra, has proposed changes to the rules for electricity consumer services. They provide for higher charges for grid sharing, dedicated transformers, feeders and substations, as well as changes to the rules for temporary disconnection and reconnection.
As Dawn reports, the regulator has put five key amendments to the Consumer Service Manual up for discussion. Interested parties may submit written comments within 30 days, by October 25.
Charges for buildings and businesses
Under the proposal, multi-storey buildings requiring a dedicated transformer with a capacity exceeding 500 kVA would have to pay a grid-sharing charge. Buildings with a ground floor and three floors above it are currently not considered high-rise, so this charge does not apply to them.
Distribution companies are proposed to be allowed to provide new consumers with several industrial, commercial or bulk supply connections, and existing industrial consumers with load increases. Up to three feeders with a combined capacity of up to 15 MW at one site and within one tariff category would be permitted if technically feasible and if the existing substation has available capacity.
For loads exceeding 5 MW, consumers are proposed to pay 100% of the grid-sharing charge, including electricity transmission costs. This would amount to 8.948 million Pakistani rupees per MW, as well as the full land cost of 0.855 million rupees per MW in proportion to the load.
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Temporary disconnections and additional charges
For loads exceeding 15 MW, a dedicated substation and the related transmission line are proposed to be required. If a consumer requests a load increase above this threshold and subsequently receives a connection from a dedicated substation, they would be reimbursed for previously paid amounts for grid sharing, the transmission line and land.
A dedicated transformer, an 11 kV feeder and upgrade costs are proposed for connections with capacities of up to 1 MW. For loads exceeding 1 MW and up to 2.5 MW, upgrade costs would be determined based on actual expenses, while the consumer would pay for work needed to meet technical parameters.
A consumer would have to contact the distribution company regarding reconnection before the temporary disconnection period ends. Otherwise, once it expires, the connection would be deemed restored and billing would resume. The number of temporary disconnections is proposed to be unlimited, but before the next such disconnection, the consumer must pay fixed and other due charges for at least one month.
Nepra also proposes allowing additional charges for a maximum of 12 months for registered consumers in cases involving the use of fake meters, freezing of the load profile, interference with metering device software, alteration of readings through Bluetooth devices, or breaches of meter protection. Such amounts would be determined according to load rather than previous or future consumption. For residential consumers, the period for additional charges is proposed to be limited to six months.
