Islamabad: Public concern is mounting over increased electricity bills for consumers using more than 200 units per month. Key revelations and statements were made during a session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly, chaired by Junaid Akbar Khan.
Officials from the Ministry of Energy and Power Division briefed the committee on rising electricity costs, overbilling, and the status of subsidies. The Power Secretary confirmed that the subsidy for consumers using up to 200 units is still intact. However, he acknowledged that the phase-out of the “protected category” is underway.
He revealed that currently, 18 million consumers across the country use 200 units or less and continue to receive government subsidies.
PAC Chairman Junaid Akbar raised a serious concern: “Why do consumers get charged higher rates for six months if their electricity usage exceeds 200 units even once?“ He demanded a policy review and a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Energy. For a detailed breakdown of how exceeding 200 electricity units affects your bill in Pakistan and what changes may come in 2025, click here.
Shazia Marri also voiced strong concerns, questioning why areas in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffer from 16 hours of daily load shedding despite surplus electricity availability in the country.
In response, the Power Secretary stated that the current subsidy system is unsustainable in the long term. The government plans to shift to a direct-targeting model using BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme) data by 2027.
The session also featured an audit report on Independent Power Producers (IPPs). According to the report, IPPs generated 9,765 MW in 2015, which has grown to 25,642 MW in 2024. Their annual payments have risen from PKR 141 billion to PKR 1.4 trillion.
The committee questioned electricity generation reports from bagasse (sugarcane waste), noting a 200% increase, which was termed “incomprehensible.” However, officials from CPPA clarified that the results exceeded benchmarks.
Lastly, the Power Secretary assured that the six-month penalty billing policy for exceeding 200 units is under review and adjustments are being considered to provide relief to the public.
