KARACHI, Oct 17: Industrialists and exporters have started receiving inflated power bills under the new tariff structure.

They are approaching their respective associations for options to counter the impact of the substantial tariff hike.

A small unit will now pay the bill at the rate of Rs8.05 per KW/H as compared to Rs6.18 while a medium sized unit will pay the bill at Rs6.74 as compared to Rs4.95.

Large industries will have to pay the power bill at Rs5.98 per KW/H as compared to Rs3.72 in day time while at peak load, the bill will be charged at Rs7.67 per unit as compared to Rs5.92 per unit.

The Site Association of Industry has provided copies of electricity bills of its members. Many members despite receiving bills a few days back have not deposited them yet while many received the bills late.

A medium-sized unit at Site Industrial area received a bill of Rs601,109 this month on 65,475 units as compared to its bill of Rs532,516 last month.

The bill shows an amount of Rs232,371 in terms of fuel adjustment charges in the current bill as compared to Rs95,818 in last month’s bill.

The amount of additional surcharge is Rs204,548 as compared to Rs197,094.

Another medium-sized unit has received a bill of Rs106,256 as compared to its previous bill of Rs74,336.

The bill carries energy charges of Rs19,048 as compared to previous month’s Rs16,565, and fuel adjustment and additional surcharge are worth Rs40,777 and Rs 35,275 as compared to previous month’s Rs14,654 and Rs31,857, respectively.

A large unit of textile has received a bill of Rs1,658,137 as compared to Rs,198,068 last month.

Fuel adjustment charges are worth Rs592,166 as compared to Rs199,354 last month. Additional surcharge has been enhanced to Rs411,730 as compared to Rs372,699 last month.

A large unit of fabric producer has received a bill of Rs662,184 as compared to Rs400,000 last month on consuming 79,585 units as compared to 64,248 units. Fuel adjustment surcharge has been charged at Rs259,543 as compared to Rs73,585 units.

The amount of additional surcharge is Rs179,705 as against Rs137,829 last month.

An industrialist in F B Area said he got the bill of Rs350,569 this month as compared to Rs257,492.

Many trade bodies and associations under the umbrella of FPCCI had resolved recently to deposit the power bills with their respective associations on the basis of old rates/tariff and the associations would deposit the same with the KESC.

However, Site Association of Industry chairman Nisar Sheikhani said that the association would decide the future course of action in a joint meeting with the All-Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (Aptma) and the KCCI office-bearers on Oct 18.

He said that the fuel adjustment surcharge (FAS) had been increased by 150 per cent (B-1 category of consumers) to 300 per cent (B-3 category).

This increase is abnormal and highest ever allowed by Nepra despite the fact that global oil prices have come down substantially in recent months.

“Industrialists are literally confused as to how they will run their industries as it will increase cost of production,” he said adding the power hike has come at a time when all the economic indicators are in the red and exporters and manufactures are trying their best to sustain under global and domestic challenges.