ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has decided to go ahead with Rs3.81 per unit hike in electricity tariff and an official announcement in this regard will be made on Monday (today).

The committee has recommended to exempt consumers who utilise 50 units of electricity on monthly basis. Consumers of electricity will have to bear an additional burden of about Rs406 billion.

The power division has recommended an increase of 87 paisas per unit for consumers utilising100 units per month, while Rs1.22 per unit hike has been recommended on consumers who use 200 units per month.

Consumers utilising 300 units will have to pay a minimum amount of Rs2.04 per unit and a maximum increase of Rs3.81 has been recommended.

The government has also decided to provide subsidy to industrialists besides continuing with the support package.

Earlier on September 26, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet had deferred the summary for increase in electricity prices after Finance Minister Asad Umar objected to the tariff determination formula.

The minister sought a clear roadmap for the reduction in losses and improvement in the recovery of bills before the ECC gave its nod for the increase in prices.

The finance ministry in its statement said thatthe consideration of the Ministry of Power’s proposal for a notification of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s (Nepra) determined tariff was delayed until finalisation of a comprehensive plan for the improvement of service delivery. NNI